While women acquire 80-90 percent of bone mass during childhood and adolescence, it continues to increase till their early 30s. Bones become stronger and denser as more calcium becomes part of their bone matrix. But if enough calcium is not deposited during childhood, their bones may turn weak later in life, leading to bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
The major biological function of Vitamin D is to promote the mineralization of the skeleton. Most foods do not contain any Vitamin D; sunlight is the only major source for this vitamin.
Another important component of bone health is physical activity. Young women who exercise regularly, tend to achieve greater peak bone mass than those who do not.