Calcium and vitamin D

Indication: Stress fractures (young women)

Source: Orthopedic Research Society Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA

Research: Researchers conducted a study on 3700 women training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center over a period of eight weeks. Half of the subjects were given supplements with higher amounts of calcium (2000 mg) and vitamin D (800 IUs), while the other group was given a placebo.

Results: Over the study period, researchers said 27% fewer stress fractures were reported among women who took supplements. Lead researcher Joan Lappe said if all 14,441 training at the Great Lakes center during the study has been taking supplements, there would have been 260 few female recruits with stress fractures.