Here at Matthews Internal Medicine, we always focus on preventative medicine when possible. One of our areas of expertise is osteoporosis prevention. As we get older and our bones get more brittle and prone to breaking, there are steps that you can take to keep your bones healthier as you age. Still, fractures can happen. One way that some people try to prevent this is through the use of supplements, but do they actually work?
One nutrient that’s important for bone health is vitamin D. You’ll find this vitamin in a variety of healthy foods and drinks like milk. Another nutrient that helps is calcium. Also found in milk and a variety of dairy products, this can help your bones stay healthier at any age. It’s especially important for older people. So changing up your diet may be necessary, but are supplements needed as well? The answer can be a bit complicated.
Vitamin D Supplements
A recent study showed that vitamin D supplements could have a variety of health benefits. In theory they should help with bone health. In practice, they don’t always work on their own. Vitamin D supplementation alone doesn’t have much of an effect when it comes to fracture risk. Just taking extra vitamin D may not be enough for many older adults.
Calcium Supplements
Since it’s the other major nutrient that supports bone health, so it’s no surprise that some think of taking calcium supplements as well. With a healthy diet, calcium supplements can actually help prevent fractures. The main issue with calcium supplementation is that many participants in trials have a hard time sticking with supplements in the long run. While they can help with hip fracture risk , they don’t help much if a patient doesn’t stick with a supplementation program.
So Now What?
It may seem like supplements don’t help that much, but it’s not all bad news. Together, vitamin D and calcium supplements can actually help reduce the risk of fracture in some older patients. These supplements can even help prevent hip fractures, one of the more debilitating injuries that an older person with osteoporosis could encounter. The key is sticking to a supplement regimen and ensuring that a patient gets all of the calcium and vitamin D that they need.
The effectiveness of supplements could also vary based on the patients. In some cases, exercises that improve balance and coordination could be a better path for some people. Most breaks and fractures in old age come from falls. So focusing on balance and coordination can help reduce the risk of a fall, and thus the risk of a fracture. This is especially important for anyone who is living in their own homes and not in an assisted living facility, where caretakers would always be nearby.
Whatever the best route forward is, we’ll find it here at Matthews Internal Medicine. Our preventative care experts can help you avoid a major medical issue before it happens. We look forward to helping you stay healthy and active for as long as possible.