Osteoporosis research findings

2023

ATHENA

Research commissioned by Athena, conducted by Empathy Research

600 Irish men and women aged over 40 were surveyed, to understand the occurrence of fragility fractures and awareness of appropriate nutritional supplementation for optimal bone health.1

76%

of men and women over the age of 40 don't consume the recommended amount of calcium in their diet2

1 in 2 women
& 1 in 5 men

over the age of 50 are at risk from osteoporosis2

85%

of adults don't know how much Calcium or Vitamin D they should take daily for good bone health2

62%

of adults over 40 surveyed buy calcium and/or vitamin supplements, but 45% of those surveyed dose incorrectly, which may result in incorrect dosing2

The recommended allowances, as defined by the Institute of Medicine, are outlined in the table below:

Table 1. Calcium and Vitamin D dietary reference intakes by life stage3

Life-stage groupCALCIUMVITAMIN D
RDA (mg/d)UL (mg/d)RDA (IU/d)UL (IU/d)
31–50 yr (f)1,0002,5006004,000
51–70 yr (f)1,2002,0006004,000
51–70 yr (m)1,0002,0006004,000
71+ yr (m & f)1,2002,0008004,000
  1. 1Research commissioned by Athena, conducted by Empathy Research, January 2023.
  2. 2www.getthestandalone.ie
  3. 3Institute of Medicine. Volume 96, Issue 1, January 2011.