As you may have already assumed, continuing to take your calcium and vitamin D supplement long-term is critical to your bones' health. Important findings published in the September American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by Dr. Bess Dawson-Hughes and colleagues at Tufts University demonstrate that you must continue to take your supplements to achieve long-term benefit for bones.

Men and women (68 years and older) who participated in a three-year randomized controlled trial of calcium and vitamin D supplementation at our research center experienced significant increases in bone mineral density over the three years - with a significant reduction in fractures. Researchers then followed these volunteers for another two years while they did not take the supplements. They found that the majority of bone benefits were completely lost during the two years without supplementation.

The take-home message: continuing to regularly take your calcium and vitamin D supplement is just as important for older adults' bone health as starting them.