Calcium and Vitamin D in Aging Populations

In the past few decades, there have been major developments in understanding the role of nutrients in health and disease. Calcium and vitamin D are among the most interesting of these nutrients, having great relevance to public health, disease prevention, and clinical management in the elderly. Given the important role of vitamin D in calcium economy, these two nutrients are often studied and discussed together in the literature; however, it has increasingly been recognized that vitamin D has many functions other than regulating calcium absorption and metabolism in the human body. Similarly, calcium intake levels have been found to be associated with many health outcomes besides bone health. Although calcium and vitamin D levels needed to prevent nutrient deficiencies have long been established, the necessary amounts for optimal health among older men and women are still subjects of research and discussion. This chapter will review the basic metabolic processes of calcium and vitamin D in normal healthy populations, identify food and supplementary sources for them, discuss daily requirements and factors pertaining to their status in older people, and provide an updated summary of the associations between health and intake levels in optimal aging. We hope the information included will paint a comprehensive picture for individual consumers and.