Postmenopausal women have too low levels of vitamin D

More than half of postmenopausal women have inadequate blood levels of vitamin D to help keep good bone formation, according to two international studies presented in the context of EULAR, an annual European Congress of Rheumatology, held in Vienna (Austria).

Vitamin D is synthesized by the body through sunlight is essential for calcium absorption in the intestine, this mineral is itself essential to the strength and health of the bone. Although all, regardless of age, may need calcium and vitamin D, this need is even more important after menopause, since then women lose bone mass and face a greater risk of fractures.

"out many people at that age who reduce their consumption of dairy products, calcium-rich," said Dr. David Hosking of Nottingham City Hospital (UK), who led the research.

Both studies, in fact, carried out by British teams, Dutch and American. They included 1,536 women aged 70 years living in North America and 1,244 women from 18 other countries. All were treated for osteoporosis, a condition of the bones made porous and fragile after menopause and related to estrogen deficiency that develops in this period of life. The participants underwent blood tests and completed questionnaires to determine their vitamin D status

n total, 82% of women in the Middle East had inadequate levels of vitamin D, followed by 63% of women in Asia, 59% of those living on the coast of the South Pacific, 52% in North America and Europe and 51% in Latin America.

"It is alarming that too many women do not have enough vitamin D to reduce bone loss during menopause. It is also surprising to observe the results for women living in Florida, the Middle East and Asia countries where sun exposure is yet strong, "says Dr Hosking.

According to him, in Europe, it is sufficient to expose her face and hands about 15 minutes a day to maintain reasonable levels of vitamin D, especially as "the gut adapts very well to ensure absorption a sufficient amount of calcium, a benefit which, however, seems somewhat compromised when vitamin D is too low. "

A lifestyle that combines a regular intake and adequate amounts of dairy products (such as a half liter of semi-skimmed or skimmed milk per day) and a reasonable exposure to the sun, can meet the needs of vitamin D and calcium, he recommends, adding that those who do not get out enough from home, there is an alternative of taking vitamin and mineral supplements.