​Vitamin D3 Facts:

• Improves muscle strength
• Improves balance and your ability to get around
• Prevents falls and fractures
• Helps your body use calcium in the bones, making them stronger
• It is thought that most Canadians are not getting enough Vitamin D3
• Sunshine is our best source but it is not available year round in Saskatchewan
• It is difficult to get enough Vitamin D from the foods we eat

What can you do?

• Osteoporosis Canada recommends that Canadians take a Vitamin D3 supplement year round
• For bone health, 800-2000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily is recommended from all sources (food + supplement)
• Saskatoon Health Region recommends people living in long term care homes should take 4000 IU daily
• Eat foods that have added Vitamin D such as milk (cows, almond, rice, soya), yogurt, some fruit juices, oily fish (salmon, sardine, mackerel, halibut), oatmeal and white button mushrooms, to name a few
• Vitamin D3 supplements come in a variety of forms: tablets, liquid or chewable - All forms are good
• Make sure you are getting enough calcium in your diet
• Check with your health care practitioner or pharmacist to see if Vitamin D3 will interfere with any other medication you are taking
• Exercise daily to improve muscle strength, balance and bone health