Osteoporosis and the roles of nutrients

Osteoporosis, literally ‘porous bone’ is defined as a reduction in the mass and quality of bone and/or the presence of a fragility fracture.

It is sometimes called a silent disease because people can have osteoporosis without feeling sick or knowing something is wrong with their bones.

Osteoporosis greatly reduces independence and the quality of life of its victims; many die from complications of osteoporosis.

Dairy products are the major sources of calcium in Western diets. Milk provides a good source of many nutrients. Diets low in dairy products is often low in many nutrients. The body needs calcium for proper heart, muscle and nerve function, to maintain blood pressure, and for blood clotting. If the diet doesn't provide enough calcium, it’ll take it from "calcium reservoir" (otherwise known as bones).

If old bone is removed at a rate that is too fast, or if the rate of new bone replacement occurs too slowly, then gradually bones become porous and fragile. For example, 40% of the bone's density can be lost during advanced osteoporosis.

The complications of osteoporosis relate to the fractures that result from the condition and therefore, depend on which bone breaks. The main problems are pain and disability.

Although osteoporosis can attack any bone in the body, the typical sites osteoporosis fractures are the hip, the spine, and the wrist.

A lifelong adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, as well as phosphorus, zinc, vitamins K and C, copper and manganese, helps bone health by increasing (as much as is genetically possible) the amount of bone formed during youth and early adulthood.

Calcium and vitamin D are available as single nutrient supplements, as components of multi-nutrient supplements, or as calcium plus vitamin D supplements with or without other nutrients (e.g vitamin K, phosphate).
Osteoporosis and the roles of nutrients