Why everyone should be combining vitamin D and calcium tablets

Many people take supplements for health reasons. If things aren’t great on a dietary basis, or if we need an extra boost, supplements are a great way of giving your body much needed vitamins and minerals.

However, those who have previously suffered from calcium deficiency may be on calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. What they might not realise is that these tablets are fairly ineffectual without the added value of magnesium and/or vitamin D.

Vitamin D is recommended as a partner with calcium as it allows the body to absorb the mineral.

While Vitamin D is derived from the sun and rich in fish and eggs, vegans living in colder climes may need an extra vitamin D kick.

Vitamin D has loads of invaluable uses particularly with the following:

• Regulate the absorption of phosphorus
• Facilitate normal immune system function
• Help the normal growth and development of bones and teeth
• Help resist against certain diseases, including multiple sclerosis and heart disease.
• Reduce risk of rickets and osteoporosis
• Can help fight depression
• Help the body lose weight

The relationship between vitamin D and calcium was discovered in the early to mid 19^th century when doctors were working out the causes of rickets. While sunshine had been discussed as a possible preventative, it was not until around 20^th century when vitamin D and calcium were seen as the golden couple by way of a cure to the bone weakening disease.

In terms of the cell development in bones, nails and hair, calcium and vitamin D are powerful bedfellows.

A lack of Vitamin D is now recognised to reduce bone mineral density, which can lead to fractures, particularly in older patients. Vitamin D deficiency is also key to increasing the parathyroid hormone levels in the body – which has also been proven to reduce bone loss.