Vitamin D appears important in reducing hip fracture risk

Researchers continue to look for factors that can prevent osteoporosis and reduce the risk of hip fracture. A study from Harvard University examined the dietary intakes of more than 70,000 postmenopausal women over an 18-year period and looked to see which women had hip fractures. The women's calcium intake did not seem to be associated with their risk of fracturing a hip, even when they used as much as 1500 milligrams of calcium daily. Women who drank the most cow's milk had about the same risk of hip fracture as women who drank the least cow's milk. Did anything reduce the risk of hip fracture? Vitamin D did. Women who had higher levels of vitamin D from their diet and from supplements had a lower risk of hip fracture than did women who consumed less vitamin D. Sources of vitamin D for vegans include foods fortified with vitamin D, like some brands of soymilk, rice milk, and breakfast cereals. Vitamin D supplements can also be used to meet these needs.

Feskanich D, Willett WC, Colditz GA. 2003. Calcium, vitamin D, milk consumption, and hip fractures: a prospective study among postmenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr 77:504-11.

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