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Effects of Vitamin D on Bone Health in Healthy Young Adults

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Nutritional Influences on Bone Health

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Abstract

Osteoporosis is a global health problem that will take on increasing significance as people live longer and the world’s population continues to increase in number.1 For example, currently in the United States (US) alone, ten million individuals already have osteoporosis, and a further 34 million have low bone mass, which make them increasingly susceptible to this disorder.2 While osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, fragility fractures are the hallmark of osteoporosis and are particularly common in the spine, hip, and distal forearm, although they can occur throughout the skeleton. These fractures are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and can have a serious impact on quality of life in patients with osteoporosis. It is estimated that one in eight European Union (EU) citizens over the age of 50 years will fracture their spine this year.1 Furthermore, because of the increase in incidence rates of osteoporotic fractures with age,3 the demographic changes and increasing life expectancy predicted for Europe, the US, and elsewhere will have a huge impact on the number of fractures which can be expected to occur.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Kevin D. Cashman

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  1. Kevin D. Cashman
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Correspondence to Kevin D. Cashman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, 1006, Switzerland

    Peter Burckhardt

  2. Tufts University Boston, USDA Human Nutrition Research Centre on, 711 Washington Street, Boston, 02111, USA

    Bess Dawson-Hughes

  3. , Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, 700 W. State Street, West Lafayette, 47907, USA

    Connie Weaver

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Cashman, K.D. (2011). Effects of Vitamin D on Bone Health in Healthy Young Adults. In: Burckhardt, P., Dawson-Hughes, B., Weaver, C. (eds) Nutritional Influences on Bone Health. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-978-7_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-978-7_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-977-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-978-7

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