Ageing is associated with a reduced density of bone, and this reduced density increases the risk of fractures. Women are particularly susceptible to this reduced bone mass which implies that the condition of osteoporosis may be heavily dependent on hormone levels. The mechanism by which bone density is reduced appears to be via an increase in the levels of parathyroid hormone, which become elevated in ageing. Parathyroid hormone is the hormone that reduces calcium uptake to bone as a mechanism to keep blood levels of calcium within equilibrium. Interestingly parathyroid levels are antagonised by vitamin D and increasing vitamin D intake from supplements significantly reduces parathyroid hormone levels and significantly improves bone density. Vitamin D is afterall not a vitamin, but a hormone that regulates calcium uptake from the intestine to bone, through its suppression of parathyroid hormone. Supplemental vitamin D is therefore recommended for those at risk of elevated parathyroid hormone.
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