After menopause, hormone replacement therapy can boost the bones' calcium absorption, preventing osteoporosis in three-quarters of the women at risk. Calcium is critical for building bones. You may have less bone mass than you should if you haven't been getting the recommended daily allowance of 1,200 milligrams per day throughout your life. For postmenopausal women, a high daily intake of 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams is recommended. Women who smoke generally experience menopause up to a year and a half earlier than nonsmokers, and thus face a longer period of estrogen deficiency and accompanying bone loss.
Smoking also hampers efficient processing of calcium.
Smokers have a higher rate of vertebral fractures than nonsmokers. Consuming more than two alcoholic drinks daily can decrease calcium absorption. It also interferes with the vitamin D synthesis that helps the bones absorb calcium.