Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

Hip fractures are a common injury in mature adults and can lead to long periods of bed rest and sometimes even death. A recent, large-scale study suggests that taking supplements of vitamin D3 and calcium may reduce the risk of hip fracture in postmenopausal women by 38%.

The study used data collected from the Women’s Health Initiative, which included 36,282 postmenopausal women. For an average of seven years, half of the group took 1,000 mg of elemental calcium carbonate plus 400 IU of vitamin D3 a day, while the other half took a placebo.

Only 59% of the participants adhered to the supplementation program. For those women, the risk of hip fracture was 29% lower.

Further analysis has found that the risk of hip fracture was 38% lower among women not taking supplements at the start of the study, compared to the placebo group.

The study was published in the February 13, 2013, issue of Osteoporosis.

Calcium is a mineral that is essential for bone strength. A lack of calcium can lead to osteoporosis, a serious health issue characterized by low bone mass which leads to an increased risk of fractures. Vitamin D3 aids in calcium break down and absorption. Several studies have also suggested that calcium and vitamin D may play a role in the regulation of abdominal fat mass.

Consumption of vitamin D3 has been linked to reducing the risk of osteoporosis and high blood pressure in mature adults, improving kidney health, reducing the risk of skin cancer, improving cardiovascular health, combating diabetes, and improving age related eye degeneration.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

Studies have shown that the high calcium content of dairy products is beneficial for building better bone strength, but a new study claims that not all dairy products are equally beneficial. The study found that milk and yogurt strengthened bone mineral density (BMD), while cheese had no effect at all on BMD.

The study included 3,212 individuals who participated in the Framingham Offspring Study. They completed a food frequency questionnaire and then were followed for 12 years to record BMD measurements.

At the end of 12 years, the researchers analyzed the compiled data to determine the associations between dairy intake and BMD. They found that milk and fluid dairy were associated with higher BMD in the hip, but not the spine. Yogurt intake was associated with higher BMD in the femur. Cream and cream products such as ice cream appeared to have a negative effect on BMD in the femoral neck.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) at Hebrew Senior Life, which is an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. It was published online ahead of print on February 1, 2013 in Archives of Osteoporosis.

Dairy consumption has also been linked with bone health, diabetes prevention, weight loss, and improved mental function. If you’re looking to add more dairy to your diet, try to stick to the low-fat dairy products as the high fat content of “whole milk” products could reduce any positive benefits.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

If you are looking to lose body fat, you may want to consider taking calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. A recent study found that people on a diet who took both supplements lost up to 55.6% more body fat mass than those on a diet who did not take the supplements.

Participants in the study included 53 overweight and obese adults, all of whom had reported low calcium consumption. Over the course of 12 weeks, half of the group took 600 mg of elemental calcium and 125 IU of vitamin D3. All of the participants consumed a calorie-restricted diet for the duration of the study.

At the conclusion of the study, both groups had lost the same amount of overall body weight. However, the participants in the supplement group had lost 6.1 pounds of body fat, while those in the diet only group lost 3.9 pounds of body fat. The supplement group also lost a greater amount of visceral fat, the unhealthy fat that surrounds our internal organs.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Shanghai Institute of Health Sciences in China. It was published in the Nutrition Journal on January 8, 2013.

Calcium is a mineral that is essential for bone strength. A lack of calcium can lead to osteoporosis, a serious health issue characterized by low bone mass which leads to an increased risk of fractures. Vitamin D3 aids in calcium break down and absorption. Several studies have also suggested that calcium and vitamin D may play a role in the regulation of abdominal fat mass.

Consumption of vitamin D3 has been linked to reducing the risk of osteoporosis and high blood pressure in mature adults, improving kidney health, reducing the risk of skin cancer, improving cardiovascular health, combating diabetes, and improving age related eye degeneration.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

A panel of experts has examined the available scientific literature and concluded that calcium supplements do not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Their findings refute a previous study that suggested a possible link between the two.

In addition, the experts found reinforced evidence of the benefits of calcium for bone health. They recommend that doctors continue to suggest calcium supplementation to their patients in order to maintain bone health.

The expert panel was composed of academic and industry experts in the fields of nutrition, cardiology, epidemiology, bone health and integrative medicine. They examined randomized controlled trials results and observational data to determine if taking calcium supplements over a long period of time could increase the risk of strokes, coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular issues.

The experts on this panel included researchers from Creighton University Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Provident-Biofortis, and the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Their findings were published in the online November 2012 issue of Advances in Nutrition.

Calcium is best known for its effect on bone health, but previous studies suggest it can also help with weight loss, skin health, and reducing the risk of colorectal cancer and stroke. Some studies have even suggested that calcium intake is associated with longevity.

Calcium absorption decreases as we age, so it is especially important to make sure you are getting enough of it. Try adding more dairy products or start taking a high quality supplement if you’re trying to up your calcium intake.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

A new study looked at the levels of dairy consumption and hip fractures in the Netherlands, France, and Sweden. All three countries have different levels of dairy consumption, with the Netherlands having the highest and France the lowest.

It was determined that a substantial number of hip fractures could be avoided and that a large amount of money could be saved in medical costs if people consumed more calcium rich dairy products.

The researchers calculated the Population Attributive Fraction (PAF) for each country. This showed them what percentage of hip fractures were results of low calcium intake and how many of those fractures could have been prevented through more intake.

They found that the French population could avoid 2,023 hip fractures a year, Sweden could avoid 455, and the Netherlands could avoid 135. .

They also calculated that those countries could save $165 million, $44 million, and $7 million, respectively, in health care costs if preventative measures were taken.

Researchers for this study were based at the University Hospital of Geneva. Their findings were published online ahead of print on June 16, 2012, in the journal Osteoporosis International.

Calcium is best known for its effect on bone health, but previous studies suggest it can help with weight loss, skin health, and reducing the risk of colorectal cancer and stroke. Some studies have even suggested that calcium intake is associated with longevity.

Calcium absorption decreases as we age, so it is especially important to make sure you are getting enough of it. Try adding more dairy products or start taking a high quality supplement if you’re trying to up your calcium intake.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

How many times have you heard that sodium is bad for your blood pressure? Well, here’s something that you may not have heard… it may be bad for your bones too. A recent study shows that when your body is trying to get rid of excess sodium it may also be flushing out much needed calcium as well.

Researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada observed mice devoid of a gene that is important to absorbing sodium. This gene has been shown in previous studies to be the way human bodies absorb sodium as well.

The study showed that animals without this gene had high levels of calcium in their urine. They also had thin bones as a result of the fact that the calcium was not being absorbed.

Their findings were published in the April 2012 issue of the American Journal of Physiology- Renal Physiology.

Calcium has been shown to aid bone health, help with weight loss, skin health, and reducing the risk of colorectal cancer and stroke. Some studies have even suggested that calcium intake is associated with longevity.

Calcium absorption decreases as we age, so it is especially important to make sure you are getting enough of it in your diet or through a high quality supplement, preferably algae based rather than the standard rock form.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

A recent analysis suggests that taking vitamin D and calcium together could extend the length of your life.

Twenty-four randomized controlled trials with a total of 70,528 participants with a median age of 70 were included in the analysis. The researchers noted that vitamin D in combination with calcium supplementation over the course of three years resulted in a 9% lower mortality rate compared to those who only received calcium.

The study was published online ahead of print on May 17, 2012, in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. It was conducted by researchers at Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark.

Consumption of vitamin D has been linked to improving kidney health, reducing the risk of skin cancer, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, improving cardiovascular health, combating diabetes, and improving age related eye degeneration.

Calcium is a mineral that is essential for bone strength. A lack of calcium can lead to osteoporosis, a serious health issue characterized by low bone mass which leads to an increased risk of fractures. Vitamin D aids in calcium break down and absorption. Several studies have also suggested that calcium and vitamin D may play a role in the regulation of abdominal fat mass.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the knee joint, commonly treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. However, long term use of NSAID’s can have serious side effects such as ulcers, kidney failure and liver failure.

A recent study from researchers at FutureCeuticals, Inc. suggests that a supplement consisting of boron, calcium and fructose may reduce inflammation and pain in knee osteoarthritis sufferers. Their findings were published online ahead of print in the 2012 issue of the American Journal of Biomedical Sciences.

Twenty volunteers between the ages of 44 and 65 participated in the two-week double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. All of the volunteers had knee osteoarthritis, as confirmed by CT scan.

Half of the group consumed a fructose placebo, while the other half consumed a 108 mg supplement twice daily. The researchers drew blood at the onset of the study, at the 7 day mark and after 14 days to measure blood levels of c-reactive protein (CRP) and 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D. To measure pain, the volunteers completed the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities and Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the McGill pain questionnaire.

At the 7 day mark, the participants taking the supplement were already noting reductions in pain and stiffness and improvements in physical function. By the end of the study, the participants saw a 29% improvement in the WOMAC scores and 14% in the McGill scores.

The participants taking the supplement also saw improvements in the two biomarkers of osteoarthritis. CRP was reduced up to 37% compared to baseline levels in seven out of 10 volunteers and blood levels of 1,25(OH) vitamin D showed a 19% increase. The vitamin D increase is notable as previous studies have shown that it may help bone and cartilage health.

Osteoporosis affects 4 times as many women as men, however it can strike either gender. In addition to the nutrients listed here, soy isoflavone genistein, omega-3 essential fatty-acids, and vitamin D3, vitamins K1 and K2 and ashwaganda extract have been shown to improve bone health. All of these nutrients are difficult to obtain through diet alone but a daily high quality supplement can boost your blood levels.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

Vitamin D was first linked to protection from cancer in the 1940′s by Frank Apperly. Now researchers with the National Cancer Center in Tokyo have found that vitamin D as well as calcium may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by almost 40%.

The researchers who conducted the study are with the National Cancer Center in Tokyo, Japan. The findings were published online ahead of print on December 21, 2011 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Study participants included 737 individuals with colorectal cancer and 703 healthy controls. All of the participants had a total colonoscopy in 2004-2005.

The researchers found that participants with the highest blood concentrations of vitamin D were associated with a 36% lower risk of colorectal cancer when compared with the lowest average levels. They also found that high calcium intake of 590 mg per day was associated with a 37% lower chance of colorectal cancer when compared with low calcium intake of 542 mg per day.

Consumption of vitamin D has been linked to improved kidney health, including reductions in skin cancer, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, improved cardiovascular health, combating diabetes, and improving age related eye degeneration.

Calcium is a mineral that is essential for bone strength. A lack of calcium can lead to osteoporosis, a serious health issue characterized by low bone mass which leads to an increased risk of fractures. Vitamin D aids in calcium break down and absorption. Several studies have also suggested that calcium and vitamin D may play a role in the regulation of abdominal fat mass.

Sarah McGowan-Freije, NatureCity author & contributor

If you’re looking to lose some visceral belly fat, then you’ll be interested to know that supplements of vitamin D and calcium may help you do just that. This conclusion is the result of a joint study funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness of The Coca-Cola Company and the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center.

The findings were published online ahead of print on December 14, 2011, and will appear in the January 2012 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Visceral fat is the layer of fat located deep inside your belly. It’s the fat that surrounds your organs and is also known as intra-abdominal fat. Reducing your visceral fat can have significant health benefits. Large amounts of visceral fat have been linked to cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and inflammatory disease.

Study participants included 171 overweight and obese adults with an average age of 40. Over the course of 16 weeks, the researchers conducted two parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. One trial used three daily 8 ounces servings of an orange juice fortified with 1,050 mg of calcium and 100 IU of vitamin D. The second trial tested the same amounts of calcium and vitamin D in three daily 8oz servings of a lower calorie version of the orange juice. Both versions were tested against a placebo.

At the end of the trial, the fortified juice group showed a 12.7 cm2 reduction in visceral fat, while the placebo group showed a reduction of only 1.3 cm2. The fortified low-cal juice group showed slightly greater reductions, with 13.1 cm2 less visceral fat when compared with 6.4 cm2 in the placebo.