Bone Health – Understanding Calcium Supplements and Benefits of Other Vitamin- Minerals

Abstract

Bone health is an important concern throughout life, but more so during certain phases of life, such as pregnancy and foetal bone development, in post-menopausal women, elderly people, ones with low bone mineral density or with osteoporosis, and ones recovering from fractures and surgery. Calcium supplements are often prescribed in these cases; however, there is a large variability in the type of calcium salt. The amount of elemental calcium, the level of vitamin D3, and other vitamins-minerals present in the products, varies according to the brands available in the market. Therefore, it is important for doctors to have an awareness of the product and a thorough understanding of the same. They prescribe a supplement to a particular patient. Calcium supplements have also been linked to cardiovascular risk. Therefore, the risk benefit ratio as well as the composition of the product should be determined before prescribing it to post-menopausal women and elderly people with comorbidities.