The TRUTH About Vitamin D and Your Bones

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

If you’ve watched the news lately, you may have noticed that vitamin D has been taking a lashing.

First, some guy hoping to avoid COVID ended up in the hospital after taking 150,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily.

That’s 250 times the recommended daily allowance.

Needless to say, that’s an EXTREMELY high dosage that goes well beyond what the average person would get in a supplement. But the media took the opportunity to label the vitamin “dangerous” anyway.

Next came the results of a big study. It was published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.

The research followed 25,871 people who took 2,000 IUs of vitamin D daily for five years. The authors say that taking vitamin D didn’t prevent bone fractures in people 55 and older. Specifically, they concluded that supplementing with vitamin D didn’t lower the risk of bone fractures, nonvertebral fractures, or hip fractures.

But there are two critical things you need to know about this study.

The first is that the researchers didn’t separate people who had low vitamin D at the beginning of the study from those who didn’t. It’s a clear mistake.

It’s easy to see that giving people who already have enough vitamin D even more of the nutrient isn’t going to do anything more for their bones. On the other hand, I have a stack of research studies on my desk that prove giving people who DON’T have enough vitamin D more of the nutrient DOES help support their bones.

Your bones require MUCH more than just calcium alone to grow strong and healthy. To build good bones, you need a variety of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and chromium.

But vitamin D has a unique job to do. It helps move calcium into your bone, where it can be put to work building stronger bones.

Vitamin D’s benefits don’t end with bone health, either. This vital vitamin has also been shown to help support:

  • Muscle strength
  • Skin health
  • Blood sugar control
  • Heart health
  • Brain health
  • Immune health

The bottom line is despite the recent media backlash, vitamin D is critical for both your bone and overall health. A simple blood test will reveal if you’re one of the many who are deficient in the vitamin.

But don’t stop with vitamin D. If you want to build and maintain strong, healthy bones as you age, I have more suggestions.

Dr. Scott’s Healthy Bone Plan:

  • Protein is the forgotten nutrient when it comes to good bone health. Most proteins help with bone growth, but collagen is essential for building good bones. I take a powdered collagen supplement myself because it’s hard to get enough collagen through diet alone.
  • Vitamin C works hand-in-hand with protein to create a collagen matrix that holds all the necessary bone minerals.
  • Vitamin K is another often overlooked but essential nutrient for bone building. Studies show it can help increase bone mineral density and reduce fractures. But remember, if you’re on blood thinners, check with your doctor before taking vitamin K.
  • Many minerals are also important for bone health, including magnesium, boron, copper, and chromium.
  • Exercise doesn’t just help your muscles The extra movement also helps you build strong bones and maintain that strength as you age.

PS: As that guy who loaded up on massive amounts of vitamin D found out, getting too much of a good thing can backfire on you. But D isn’t the only vitamin you can overdo. In fact, too much of this OTHER vitamin could shatter your bones.

SOURCE:

“Supplemental Vitamin D and Incident Fractures in Midlife and Older Adults,” N Engl J Med 2022; 387:299-309, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2202106

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More Free Articles

Four Carbs that Could Add YEARS to Your Life

You’ve likely been avoiding carbs like the plague. Health gurus, fitness influencers, and diet books have convinced you that carbs are the enemy—that they spike your blood sugar, pack on pounds, and fast-track you to diabetes. So you’ve eliminated bread, sworn off pasta, and feel guilty just touching a piece of fruit. But what if...

Read This

Upgrade from Bananas and Apples to These Powerhouse Fruits

I’m often asked which fruits are the best. So, let’s talk about it. I’ll cut right to the chase: berries win this contest hands down. If you’re limiting your options to apples and bananas, you’re missing out on a universe of superior antioxidant power. Those everyday fruits are like bringing a knife to a gunfight...

Read This

The REAL Reason Americans are Getting “Fatter”

You’ve heard it a thousand times: “Americans are getting fatter because we’re lazy.” We sit at desks all day. We binge-watch Netflix instead of hitting the gym. We’ve traded physical labor for sedentary lifestyles. It’s a tidy explanation for why obesity has skyrocketed in developed countries. There’s just one problem—it’s completely wrong… A groundbreaking Duke...

Read This

Mailbag: Room Won't Stop Spinning? Do THIS First

“I’m dealing with vertigo issues, lightheadedness, and dizziness. As recently as this last Saturday I had multiple occurrences throughout the day. Is there anything I can do for this?  I’m 69 and in good health. I work out 4 to 5 times a week.” —Spinning Hi Spinning, When patients approach me with similar complaints, I...

Read This

Hidden Number Secretly Sabotages Male Performance

Guys (and gals that love them), we should talk. You know how we’ve always been told that bedroom troubles are just part of getting older—that we just need to live with them? Well, it turns out that’s not true. Scientists recently wrapped up a six-year study that followed over 100 healthy men, and the findings...

Read This

Shocking Study Links Kids' Snacks to Dangerous Early Puberty

Kids are growing up in a world vastly different from the one we knew. Back in our day, if a child wanted something sweet, it was a piece of candy or a homemade cookie. Today’s kids are surrounded by products filled with artificial sweeteners that didn’t even exist when we were raising our own children....

Read This

Outdated Vitamin Guidelines Put Your Brain at Risk

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think twice about vitamin B12—until your doctor mentions it during a routine blood test. But new research published in the Annals of Neurology suggests we need to pay closer attention to this crucial nutrient—especially as we age. Turns out, current guidelines for this essential nutrient might be...

Read This

The TRUTH About Supplement "Liver Dangers" REVEALED

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about liver damage from supplements—so, let’s talk about it. Reports of supplement-induced liver injuries have some folks wondering, “Could my natural remedy actually be harming me?” But before you toss all your supplements in the trash, let’s separate fact from fear—and talk about how to use supplements safely....

Read This

The 10,000 Steps LIE That's Ruining Your Health

I’ll be honest—I’m a little sick of the 10,000-steps theory. You know, the one that insists you need to take at least that many steps daily to stay healthy? You won’t believe where that claim originally came from. The 10,000-steps theory wasn’t handed down from the fitness gods on stone tablets. It originated from a...

Read This

“Brain Games” Failed You? Try THIS For Better Memory Instead

You know all those brain-training apps, supplements, and “miracle” memory-boosters that promise to keep your brain sharp as you age? Here’s the truth… There IS evidence they support brain health—and that’s why I’ll be the first to recommend them. But they aren’t the most powerful brain-boosting tool available to you. Another surprising solution has earned...

Read This