Here is the supplement Australian dads should actually know about, and why bone health belongs on every dad's radar before he thinks it does.
We went to the pharmacy for the dads
Not the most glamorous errand of the month. But possibly the most useful.
This month, we learnt that bone health is not just a women’s health conversation. Men lose bone density too. It starts in their mid-30s. And by the time most dads are thinking about it, the window for building and maintaining strong bones has already started to close.
The supplement aisle is full of products directed squarely at women. The messaging makes the intended audience very clear. And it is almost never the dad standing there on his lunch break trying to figure out what he actually needs.
The one that surprised us
The answer: Bio Island Milk Calcium Bone Care. And it is doing three things at once.
Here is the thing that most people do not know: calcium on its own is only part of the story. Without the right supporting nutrients, the calcium you take may not end up where your body actually needs it. This product has all three pieces of that system in every capsule.
Ingredient one: Calcium (as hydroxyapatite, derived from cow's milk)
Not all calcium is the same. Calcium hydroxyapatite is the primary mineral present in bones and teeth, which means this is not a synthetic source but the actual structural material the body uses to build and maintain bone. Each capsule contains 160mg of calcium in a form the body can absorb and use efficiently.
Calcium is needed at every stage of life. Not just in childhood. Not just in old age. Right now.
Ingredient two: Vitamin D3 (Colecalciferol)
The nutrient that makes calcium absorption possible. Without enough D3, the calcium you take may not be absorbed by the body properly.
And here is the stat that stopped us: roughly 23% of Australian adults are reported to have a Vitamin D deficiency. For dads spending long hours indoors or wearing sun protection outdoors, it is even more common than that. Nicolle Regent, Bio Island’s Customer Relations Manager and Nutritionist (Adv Dip. Nut Medicine), explains:
“Men in their 30s and 40s can be susceptible to a Vitamin D deficiency, particularly if they spend a lot of time indoors and don’t get enough sun exposure. Men working or getting out in the sun and wearing sun protection may also not be getting the Vitamin D intake they think they are, as sun protection does block your body from getting Vitamin D3 from sunshine. It is still essential you keep on top of sun protection.”
D3 is the nutrient that helps bridge that gap.
Ingredient three: Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone 7)
The one most people have never heard of. And the one that makes the other two work properly.
“Calcium provides the material needed to build bone and Vitamin D3 helps absorb calcium from our food. Where Vitamin K2 comes in is that it helps direct calcium to the right places, taking it away from your blood stores and putting it where your body needs it most, such as your bones and teeth,” says Nicolle.
Without K2, calcium and D3 alone cannot fully deliver. The three work as a system. Bio Island Milk Calcium Bone Care has all three.
The questions worth asking before you buy
Can I take it with other supplements?
Generally yes, but if also taking an iron supplement, Nicolle recommends you separate the doses by a few hours as calcium can interfere with iron absorption. If on blood thinning medications, check with a doctor first as the product contains Vitamin K2.
What about fish oil?
No issue taking both. They are addressing different nutritional gaps and complement each other well.
How long before I notice anything?
Bone mineral density changes occur slowly and are measured over months or years rather than weeks. The primary role of this supplement is long-term maintenance. It is an investment in the body that will still need to be showing up in 20 years.
Where do I get it?
At your local pharmacy.
Bio Island Milk Calcium Bone Care is available at Chemist Warehouse and pharmacy stockists nationally.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Vitamins and minerals can only be of assistance if dietary intake is inadequate. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.
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