Calcium is the chemical element that is responsible for the strength of the body's bones. It is also necessary in other life processes such as blood clotting and the ability of the nerves and muscles to communicate properly. Calcium dietary supplements, along with Vitamin D, are often used in geriatric patients because this is the group that is at greatest risk from fractures that are the result of "thinning" of the bones, a condition known as "osteoporosis."

Supplements Calcium

Calcium and vitamin D should be taken together to be of maximum benefit.

Supplements Calcium

Throughout life the body is constantly dissolving older bone cells and replacing them with new, stronger cells. However, as age increases, the body becomes less efficient at this process and calcium from the old cells is not reused nor is new calcium properly used to replace what has been lost. There are many reasons why this can occur, but the most common are a decrease in the production of estrogen (in women) and a decrease in the amount of calcium available in the diet (affecting both men and women). In both conditions, increasing the geriatric patient's calcium intake has been shown effective in the prevention of new fractures.

The most widely used form of calcium as a dietary is a compound known as calcium carbonate, which is usually provided as a pill or capsule. Although the amount of calcium per capsule or pill will vary by manufacturer, a total dosage of 500 mg per day is a recommended starting dosage.

The body is incapable of using calcium directly to make new bone cells. In order to produce new cells, vitamin D must also be present.

Vitamin D is also known as the "sunshine vitamin" because the body can can manufacture it from simpler substances when the skin It has been repeatedly noted that geriatric patients, because they spend relatively more time indoors, tend to have lower vitamin D levels than those who spend more time outdoors. Vitamin D is also felt to be important to the normal function of the body's immune system as well.

For most geriatric patients, an adequate supply of vitamin D is provided by foods such as milk and dairy products to which vitamin D has been added. The packaging of such vitamin D-supplemented food is usually labeled as "vitamin D fortified" or some similar term.

The suggested daily allowance of vitamin D is 400 IU (International Units) per day, which is the same as 10 micrograms. Vitamin D supplements are also available at pharmacies and health food stores.

While no one set of instructions will be appropriate for all geriatric patients, daily nutritional supplements containing calcium and vitamin D can be important in both the prevention of osteoporosis and in maintaining a healthy immune system.

Calcium and the Geriatric Patient

Supplements Calcium