Age considerations in nutrient needs for bone health.

Abstract

Age exerts a major influence on the nutritional needs for bone health. Age influences the nutrient requirements for bone health by influencing: the growth and development of bone; the deposition of minerals leading to peak bone mass; the rate of bone loss; the levels of hormones which influence bone; the absorption and retention of nutrients required for optimal bone health, physical activity, food intake, and the level of sun exposure. Adequate calcium intake benefits bones at any age. However, dietary calcium needs vary at different ages. In June 1994, a National Institutes of Health expert panel recommended higher calcium intakes than current Recommended Dietary Allowance for several age groups. Many population groups in the United States, including young girls and women, continue to consume significantly less calcium than current recommended levels. In addition, diets low in calcium are often low in many other essential nutrients important for good bone health, including vitamin D, vitamin B6, and magnesium. Dietary recommendations for bone health should be placed in the full context of the total diet rather than a singular emphasis on calcium. To truly benefit consumers, dietary recommendations for bone health should emphasize consumption of foods high in calcium as part of a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Understanding Changing Risk Factor Associations With Increasing Age in Adults

“…For example, alterations in consumption and absorption of many nutrients occur with age in mammals (8,44), and thus merely assessing dietary intake may not reflect the actual amount impacting on the host. This may be true for many common micro-and macronutrients in addition to the well-known example of vitamin B12 and its consequences.…”

Flavonoid-Loaded Biomaterials in Bone Defect Repair

“…When suffering from high-energy trauma, bone cancer, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteomyelitis, ischemic necrosis and primary tumor resection caused by bone diseases such as atrophic bone non-union, the loss of bone tissue, bone defects will appear in the human body [32]. The repair rate of bone defects depends on different factors (e.g., age, nutrition, infection, the size of the bone defect) [33]. Generally speaking, small bone defects can self-repair and regenerate [34].…”

Special Acknowledgement

“…Dietary calcium intake may be a predictor of overall dietary adequacy. Diets low in calcium are often low in many other essential nutrients, including vitamin D, vitamin B6 and magnesium (Miller, Groziak, & DiRienzo, 1996). Despite the increasing number of research studies and health messages in the popular press stating the decreased risk of chronic disease associated with calcium, nutritional surveys reveal that calcium consumption among American women has not significantly improved over the last 20 years (Miller, Steinbach, & Jarvis, 1995).…”

“…On average, Black/non-Hispanics consume approximately 1/2 cup of milk per day, white/non-Hispanics consume 3/4 cup of milk per day, and Hispanics consume a little more than 3/4 cup of milk per day (Milk Industry Foundation, 1999). Data specifically on women indicates that American females consumed 1.3 servings of dairy foods per day (Miller, Groziak, & DiRienzo, 1996). Mexican American women consumed an average of 1.64 servings of dairy products (Milk Industry Foundation, 1999).…”