Fractures caused by thinning and brittle bones affects one in three women and one in twelve men. It is a leading cause of death.

At around the age of 35 bone mass peaks. From then on it declines, especially for females who have ten to fifteen percent less bone mass than men at skeletal maturity. There is an additional loss of bone mass for eight to ten years from a reduction in hormone levels at the menopause. Many choose to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), but this is not the answer. HRT increases the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes and cancer.

The Problem With Calcium

Calcium is known to be important. However osteoporosis is not a calcium deficiency disease. Taking a calcium supplement alone is not recommended. It won't necessarily be absorbed into the bone. Instead it may remain in the blood and end up in the tissues causing its own health problems. While absorption is improved with vitamin D, it also has close relationships with other minerals.

Magnesium Is Also Important

Two-thirds of the magnesium in the body is found in the bones. It plays a vital role in the metabolism of calcium and bone. A deficiency of magnesium decreases the strength of bone, its volume and its development. It is positively associated with bone mineral density (BMD) as has been demonstrated in a number of population studies.

Strontium Can Stimulate Bone Formation

In the early part of the 20th century studies showed strontium to be effective in stimulating rapid formation of bone and that strontium and calcium were superior to calcium alone in mineralizing bone.

Boron Helps Bones To Heal

Boron is important in retaining calcium. According to Dr Rex Newnham, a world authority on the mineral, boron "will help broken bones mend in about half the normal time."

Manganese Is Needed For Bone Growth

To mineralise bone, manganese is required. Women with osteoporosis were found to have blood manganese levels at only 25% of the level of those who didn't have this condition. Deficiencies of manganese can give rise to abnormal growth of bone and cartilage as well as degeneration of the vertebral discs.

You Need Copper, Zinc & Silicon

Silicon is a rigid substance and the body uses it at the calcification sites of bones. Zinc is required for bone to form normally. Copper works in association with zinc. A lack of this mineral can lead to defects in the bone and calcium loss. Iron may also have a role to play in bone formation.

Let's Not Forget Those Vitamins

Vitamin D is required for calcium to be absorbed in the intestines. It also helps regulate bone turnover. Deficiencies are quite common in the elderly since its status declines with age.

Vitamin K is also important in the metabolism of bone. It is required for bone formation, remodelling and repair. Epidemiological studies have shown that those people who lack vitamin K in the diet or in the circulation have a lower BMD or an increase in fractures.

Vitamin C is also required for bone health. It is vital for the formation of collagen within the bone matrix. It may protect the skeleton from oxidative stress especially for those that smoke. Cigarette smoking increases hip fracture risk.

The bone remodelling process also requires vitamin A. Bone health is impaired with deficiencies.

Studies suggest menopause is associated with an increased requirement for folic acid because of decreased efficiency at converting homocysteine - a toxic byproduct of protein metabolism - to less toxic compounds. For this reason other nutrients that offer protection from homocysteine such as vitamin B6 and B12 may also be important.

And Finally

In conclusion, bone health depends on a sufficient supply of a wide range of nutrients that goes well beyond calcium and vitamin D. Such an approach is likely to be far more successful than current orthodox approaches which leave a lot to be desired.

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