Effects of Vitamin D Supplements After 50
										Vitamin D is a popular supplement to take whatever your age, but here's specifically what you'll experience if you take it when you're over 50.

Effects of Vitamin D Supplements After 50 Vitamin D is a popular supplement to take whatever your age, but here's specifically what you'll experience if you take it when you're over 50.

One day we are trucking along enjoying our youth. And then one day we wake up in our 50s, and we find creaks, cracks, and other feelings that we never experienced before.

Unfortunately, as our age increases, our risk for developing certain health conditions like osteoporosis, cancer, and hypertension increase as well. In other words, a 50-year-old body is very different than a 20-year-old body. And because of this, taking certain supplements may result in some surprising effects once we reach a certain age. (Related: Best Supplements for People Over 50, Say Nutrition Experts.)

Many of us have jumped on the vitamin D supplementation bandwagon over the past few years. This supplement has become so popular that it is now the second most common supplement consumed by Americans, second to a general multivitamin. And with prevalence rates of severe vitamin D deficiency being 5.9% in the US, it is certainly a good thing that many people are trying to combat this situation.

Plus, the skin’s capacity to produce vitamin D in older people has been estimated to be about 25% of that in persons aged 20–30 years exposed to the same amount of sunlight.

If you are over 50 and you fall into the category of “vitamin D supplement taker”, here are some side effects that you may experience.

RELATED: Eating Habits to Lose Abdominal Fat As You Age, Say Dietitians

As people age, their risk of osteoporosis increases. Approximately 10 million adults, over the age of 50, suffer from osteoporosis and 34 million have reduced bone mass or osteopenia. Fortunately, supplementation with vitamin D has been liked to higher bone mineral density and a reduced risk of developing osteoporosis (weaker bones).

Especially in the case of women who are post-menopausal, focusing on bone health is key, as the risk of fracture is increased. And who wants to deal with a bone fracture when you don’t have to?

Over half of depression cases manifest later in life. And late-onset depression is associated with increased risk of morbidity, increased risk of suicide, decreased physical, cognitive and social functioning, and greater self-neglect, all of which are in turn associated with increased mortality.

Several vitamin D receptors have been identified in the brain that affect mood, suggesting that low vitamin D levels may be associated with cognitive decline and symptoms of depression.

There are direct links between low levels of serum vitamin D higher late-life depression risk. Taking vitamin D supplements can help support healthy vitamin D levels, possibly combatting depression risk.

Advancing age is the most important risk factor for certain cancers. The incidence rates for cancer overall climb steadily as age increases, meaning that finding ways to reduce the risk as age increases is key.

Results from a study published in BMJ suggest that high levels of vitamin D are associated with a 20% lower risk of certain cancers in both men and women compared with those with low vitamin D levels. If you are taking vitamin D supplements and end up having levels on the higher side, you may notice a reduced risk of certain cancers too.

RELATED: 5 Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency You Should Never Ignore

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