Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium and vitamin D keep your bones and muscles healthy and strong. They are needed as building blocks when you're young, and for protection when you're older. They are particularly important for post-menopausal women and women with risk of bone loss or other diseases.


Calcium is a mineral that you need throughout your life to build and keep strong bones and teeth. While most of the calcium in your body is stored in your bones and teeth, a small amount is needed to help:


The following chart shows the minimum amount of calcium in milligrams that people need every day. Pregnant or nursing women need the same amount of calcium as other women their age.

Age Amount of Calcium
Infants 0-6 months 200 mg
Infants 6-12 months 260 mg
1-3 years 700 mg
4-8 years 1,000 mg
9-18 years 1,300 mg
Women 19-50 years 1,000 mg
Women over 50 1,200 mg
Men 19-70 years 1,000 mg
Men over 70 1,200 mg

Good sources of calcium

You can get your needed amounts of calcium by:

If you're concerned about getting enough calcium from diet alone, talk with your doctor about whether you'd benefit from taking a calcium supplement. This is especially important for women after menopause. Both men and women begin losing some bone mass around age 30. Because estrogen helps maintain bone mass, women are at risk of rapid bone loss after menopause when estrogen levels drop dramatically.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an important vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium and store it in the bones. Without it, bones can become soft, thin, or brittle, leading to osteoporosis and other problems.

Exercise, vitamin D, and calcium are all helpful and necessary for keeping your bones strong. Aiming for about 30 minutes of regular exercise three to four times per week is a great way to enhance the benefits of calcium and vitamin D intake.

The following chart shows the minimum amount of vitamin D that adults need daily, measured in international units (IU). Pregnant or nursing women need the same amount of vitamin D as other women their age.

Age Amount of Vitamin D
Infants 0-12 months 400 IU
1-18 years 600 IU
19-70 years* 600 IU
Over 70 years* 800 IU
*As you age, your skin becomes less able to absorb vitamin D and your body less efficient at storing it. Supplements are recommended for people over 65.

Sources of vitamin D

You can get vitamin D by:

Your body can also make and store vitamin D after being exposed to ultraviolet rays of the sun. In the spring and summer months, expose your face and arms to sunlight for 15 minutes every day. Wear sunscreen if you're out longer than 15 minutes. In the cloudy fall and winter months, include good sources of vitamin D in your diet.

Clinical review by Fred Heidrich, MD
Group Health
Reviewed 05/15/2013