Osteoporosis: Taking calcium

What is the recommended daily amount of calcium?

Calcium should always be taken with vitamin D, because vitamin D is necessary for the body to absorb calcium.

Recommended calcium by age ¹

Age	Recommended calcium intake (milligrams a day)
1–3 years	500
4–8 years	800
9–18 years	1,300
19–50 years	1,000
Older than 50 years	1,200

Pregnant or nursing women need the same amount of calcium as other women their age: 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams a day.

Most people do not get enough calcium through diet alone. You need to eat 3 to 4 servings a day of foods high in calcium to get the recommended daily amount.

Test Your Knowledge

1. If I am a woman older than age 50, I need about 1,200 mg of calcium a day to keep my bones strong and healthy.

1. True
2. False

Continue to Why is calcium used to treat or prevent osteoporosis?
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Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH	Last Updated: November 21, 2008
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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