Vitamin D Is Essential To Maintain Calcium Levels, Reduce Bone Fracture Risk

The bone-aging process common among older adults speeds up when there is a deficiency of vitamin D in the blood, a new U.S. study finds. Vitamin D is required by the body to absorb calcium, which is needed to maintain bone health. Normally, the body synthesizes vitamin D in the skin following exposure to sunlight. But when vitamin D serum concentrations drop, the body starts removing calcium from bone to maintain normal calcium blood levels. That hampers the mineralization process required for the formation of new bone. The researchers suggest that physicians check vitamin D levels regularly and make sure they are at well-balanced levels to lower the risk of fractures as people age.