Elevated calcium requirements for women and unique approaches to improving calcium adherence.

Recent analyses from the Women's Health Initiative have shed new light on the importance of adequate calcium and vitamin D intake to women's bone health. This new information reveals the need for behavioral change in women's calcium and vitamin D intake. This is especially important considering that women, at certain points in their lives have calcium requirements that significantly increase, not only with menopause, but with pregnancy, post pregnancy and lactation. Despite the dissemination of this important information, women are still not complying with the calcium requirements. This paper will explore the reasons why women are not complying with the calcium requirements during their life course even though they are aware of the requirements.