Here's more in D news:

"In a study published last year, we looked at 1,500-plus community-dwelling, postmenopausal women receiving therapy to treat or prevent osteoporosis. We found that more than half of these women had a vitamin D inadequacy. Such a prevalence isn't surprising. With concerns about skin cancer and premature aging, our patients don't want sun exposure."

--Dr. Neil Binkley of the Osteoporosis Clinical Center and Research Program

Dr. Binkley goes on to say that vitamin D testing and supplementation must be part of a reasonable management strategy for bone health in aging women.

In another study, investigators mailed one capsule containing 100,000 units of vitamin D3 to men and women every four months for 5 years. By study's end, the incidence of fractures in the vitamin D group were reduced by 22% compared with the group who enrolled in the placebe-by-mail program.

Vitamin D levels should be 30 ng/ml. Ask your doctor about checking serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.