Calcium and vitamin D are essential for normal bone growth and in maintaining healthy bones,
but are you getting enough? For many, the answer is, no. Approximately 70% of the population* are
not getting enough calcium.
1 In children and adolescents this is particularly risky since peak bone
mass can occur up until the age of 30. If calcium and vitamin D intake are consistently low during
these crucial years, there is a higher risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life.
2
Osteoporosis affects more than 10 million Americans, while another 34 million have low bone mass
(also known as osteopenia). According to National Institutes of Health, adequate calcium and
vitamin D intake, along with weight-bearing exercises, and not smoking are critical to the development
and maintenance of healthy bones.
3
* Does not include breast-fed children and lactating women
Adequate Intake (AI) for Calcium
The AI for calcium as determined by the Food and Nutrition Board, a division of the National Academy of Science, is the amount of calcium required each day for optimal bone development (density).4
Age (in years)
Children 1-3
Children 4-8
Adolescents 9-18
Adults 19 and over
Adults 51 and over
AI of Calcium
500 mg per day
800 mg per day
1300 mg per day
1000 mg per day
(age 9-50 years)
1200 mg
Percent of Individuals Not Consuming Enough Calcium
6% not getting enough
31% not getting enough
75% of adolescent boys/90% of adolescent girls
63% men over 19 years/88% women over 19 years
63% men over 19 years/88% women over 19 years
Adequate Intake (AI) for Vitamin D*
The AI for vitamin D also determined by the Food and Nutrition Board is the amount of vitamin D needed per day to keep an adequate amount of vitamin D in the blood.2 Vitamin D aids in the absorption and storage of calcium and is also important for healthy bone development and maintenance.4
Age (in years)
Children 1-18
Adults 19-50
Adults 51 and over
AI of Vitamin D
200 IU per day
400 IU per day
600 IU per day
*There is insufficient data to report the status of vitamin D intake in the US.
References
1. Moshfegh A et al. "What We Eat in America", kids 9-18 years old, NHANES 2001-2002: Usual nutrient intakes from food compared with Dietary Reference Intakes.
2. NIH. National Institutes of Health consensus statement: Optimal calcium intake. 1994;12:1-31.
3. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Calcium, Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health.
Accessed 9/25/08: http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.asp.
4. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D and Fluoride. 1997. National Academy of Sciences. Institute of Medicine.