ABSTRACT
In.the.past.few.decades,.there.have.been.major.developments.in.understanding.the.role.of.nutrients. in.health.and.disease..Calcium.and.vitamin.D.are.among.the.most.interesting.of.these.nutrients,. having.great.relevance.to.public.health,.disease.prevention,.and.clinical.management.in.the.elderly.. Given.the.important.role.of.vitamin.D.in.calcium.economy,.these.two.nutrients.are.often.studied. and. discussed. together. in. the. literature;. however,. it. has. increasingly. been. recognized. that. vitamin.D.has.many.functions.other.than.regulating.calcium.absorption.and.metabolism.in.the.human. body..Similarly,.calcium.intake.levels.have.been.found.to.be.associated.with.many.health.outcomes. besides.bone.health..Although.calcium.and.vitamin.D.levels.needed.to.prevent.nutrient.deficiencies. have.long.been.established,.the.necessary.amounts.for.optimal.health.among.older.men.and.women. are.still.subjects.of.research.and.discussion..This.chapter.will.review.the.basic.metabolic.processes. of.calcium.and.vitamin.D.in.normal.healthy.populations,.identify.food.and.supplementary.sources. for.them,.discuss.daily.requirements.and.factors.pertaining.to.their.status.in.older.people,.and.provide.an.updated.summary.of.the.associations.between.health.and.intake.levels.in.optimal.aging.. We.hope.the.information.included.will.paint.a.comprehensive.picture.for.individual.consumers.and.
8.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 103 8.2. Metabolism.of.Calcium.and.Vitamin.D.............................................................................. 104
