Technology Slice Blog

Vitamin D For Healthy Bones - High doses of vitamin D increase the number of falls and fractures in older women, say Australian researchers, who warn against using the vitamin in this way. Geoff Nicholson, of Barwon Health and the University of Melbourne in Geelong, and colleagues investigated the impact of a single annual high-dose of oral vitamin D on older women. "We expected to find a reduction in falls and fractures but we found exactly the opposite," says Professor Nicholson, whose findings appear today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Vitamin D is needed in order for the body to absorb calcium, necessary for healthy bones. It also plays a role in keeping muscles strong, especially those around the limb girdles. Professor Nicholson says while the Sun is a major source of the vitamin, indoor lifestyles and the advent of anti-skin cancer campaigns have contributed to low vitamin D levels. "A good proportion of the population, particularly women wh...