Calcium and age

Many of us view osteoporosis as an “old person’s” problem and have the view that it is good enough to address the problem later in life. Unfortunately there is a major flaw in this approach.

A person’s body reaches its maximum bone density in their late 20’s. This is the point at which the bones are effectively at their strongest and after which it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain bone strength. So just as in many other aspects of life, it is important that the body has sufficient calcium in the “bank” by this age.

In fact most of a person’s body’s bone mass is achieved during childhood and adolescence, a time when their diet often delivers inadequate calcium. Calcium requirements of 14-18 year olds are the same as women aged 50 plus, and men aged 70 plus.

Calcium supplementation is therefore not an “old person’s” problem at all but is just as, if not more, important to a younger growing person.