Osteoporosis and diet

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you may need to boost calcium intake to 1200mg a day for adults. This extra may be given as a supplement as part of your treatment.

The recommended intake for calcium has just been agreed by all interested committees.

Age	RNI (reference nutrient intake)
0-12 months	525mg (breast fed only)
1-3 yrs	350mg
4-6 yrs	450mg
7-10 yrs	550mg
11-18 years	1000mg (boys) 800mg (girls)
19+ yrs	700mg
Pregnant women	700mg
Breast feeding women	700 + 550mg

You are more at risk if you:

are on long term, high dose corticosteroid medication
have low levels of the oestrogen (female) or testosterone (male) hormones (e.g. in females, an early menopause or hysterectomy, or the 'monthly period' missing for several months, as in anorexia nervosa or over exercising. In males, anorexia nervosa, over-exercising or hypogonadism)
smoke regularly
drink alcohol heavily
have conditions of malabsorption, e.g. coeliac disease, Crohn's disease
have a family history of osteoporosis - particularly through more than one generation
are house-bound - who are unable to get outside regularly
have religious beliefs which prevent the skin from being exposed to the sunlight