Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements after menopause can significantly improve a woman's cholesterol profiles. That’s due largely to increased vitamin D levels, according to a new study from the Women's Health Initiative.

Previous studies did not separate the effects of calcium from those of vitamin D on cholesterol. The new study looked at how a calcium and vitamin D supplement changed cholesterol levels and how it affected blood levels of vitamin D in postmenopausal women.

Participants took either 1,000 milligrams of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D3, or a placebo. Those who took the supplement were more than twice as likely to have normal vitamin D levels compared to the women who took the placebo. The supplement users also had significantly lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, and lower levels of triglycerides.

The supplement was especially helpful in raising vitamin D levels in older women. Lifestyle also played a role. For example, the supplement did more to raise vitamin D levels in women who did not smoke and who drank less alcohol.