Good Day Sunshine - Vitamin D Reduces Risk of Hip Fractures in Women

Vitamin D has become the hot topic in health and nutrition news. Articles and recent research suggest the so-called 'sunshine vitamin' may reduce the risk of certain cancers, including breast, colon, and prostate.

But one very real benefit exists for women who have adequate levels of vitamin D - the reduction of hip fractures. US News & World Report cites a study done by University of Pittsburgh researchers on vitamin D intake and hip fractures in women, and quotes Dr. Michael F. Holick, director of the Vitamin D Skin and Bone Research Laboratory at Boston University, on the vitamin D-fracture link:

"The good news is...the higher your vitamin D status, the lower the risk of your developing a hip fracture."...

Hip fractures can be devastating for older individuals. In fact, 50 percent of older people who suffer a hip fracture will end up in a nursing home and 20 percent will die within the first year due to complications such as a pulmonary embolism resulting from the fracture, Holick said.... According to the U.S. Institute of Medicine, people should get between 200 and 400 international units of vitamin D a day. The best way to get vitamin D, naturally, is by being out in the sun.

As little as 10 to 15 minutes of sun a day can give you all a vitamin D you need. Vitamin D is also available in small quantities in foods such as fish and milk.

Preventing hip fracture is another good reason to keep your vitamin D levels up, Holick said. "To get vitamin D levels to where they need to be to reduce the risk of hip fracture, you need to be taking at least 1,000 international units of vitamin D a day from a supplement," he advised.