We all need to start thinking about our bone health. Here's what to eat
Research suggests that vitamin D supplements may not prevent fractures in healthy people, though previous research found they can reduce the risk of falls among older adults.
If we take too much (over 100 micrograms, which is significantly more than the recommended daily supplement amount of 10-15 micrograms) it may increase falls. This suggests that "more is not better", says Dawson-Hughes. We don't know for sure, why she says, but too much could increase a hormone that reduces the amount of vitamin D available to our body.
While the US and the UK advise adults to take a vitamin D supplement, some experts say only older adults or at risk groups should take supplements, especially those who have little Sun exposure. Globally about 15% of individuals are deficient and it's more common in winter. Meanwhile, calcium supplements are only recommended for those who are not able to get enough from their diet.
"If you have a diet that has dairy, protein, green leafy vegetables and fish and meat, you'll have all the vitamins and minerals you need, but there will be people who don't have that. And those people would probably need to take supplements," Sagen Zac-Varghese told the BBC's What's Up Docs podcast.
Of course, there are plenty of vegan foods which contain calcium naturally, such as green leafy vegetables, sesame seeds and various pulses, and some people may be able to get enough from these sources. However, one meta analysis found that vegans tend to consume less of this nutrient than omnivores or vegetarians, and experts say that vegans might want to consider fortified foods or supplements.
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