Calcium and vitamin D are both essential nutrients for maintaining strong, healthy bones. And while each plays a different role in bone health, experts say they work better when taken together.

What Calcium and Vitamin D Do In the Body

Calcium is a mineral that gives bones their structure and strength , while vitamin D is a hormone that supports bone growth , according to Natalie Allen, RD , a clinical associate professor of nutrition and dietetics in the School of Health Sciences at Missouri State University.

Adults generally need 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium daily , while most adults need 600-800 IU of vitamin D daily , though some may need more depending on age, skin tone, or medical conditions.

"Calcium is the main building block that gives bones their structure and strength

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