Essential Nutrients for Bone Health and a Review of their Availability in the Average North American Diet

Abstract

Osteoporosis and low bone mineral density affect millions of Americans. The majority of adults in North America have insufficient intake of vitamin D and calcium along with inadequate exercise. Physicians are aware that vitamin D, calcium and exercise are essential for maintenance of bone health. Physicians are less likely to be aware that dietary insufficiencies of magnesium, silicon, Vitamin K, and boron are also widely prevalent, and each of these essential nutrients is an important contributor to bone health. In addition, specific nutritional factors may improve calcium metabolism and bone formation. It is the authors’ opinion that nutritional supplements should attempt to provide ample, but not excessive, amounts of factors that are frequently insufficient in the typical American diet.In contrast to dietary insufficiencies, several nutrients that support bone health are readily available in the average American diet. These include zinc, manganese, and copper which may have adverse effects at higher levels of intake. Some multivitamins and bone support products provide additional quantities of nutrients that may be unnecessary or potentially harmful.The purpose of this paper is to identify specific nutritional components of bone health, the effects on bone, the level of availability in the average American diet, and the implications of supplementation for each nutritional component. A summary of recommended dietary supplementation is included.

Anti-inflammatory effects of boron alone or as adjuvant with dexamethasone in animal models of chronic and granulomatous inflammation

“…However, decreased hair contents of boron, 3 and low environmental boron 4 have been associated with Kashin-Beck disease in China, and low plasma boron level has been associated with rheumatoid arthritis. 5 Many experimental animal and human studies provided evidence for the effective and safe use of boron for treating certain types of osteoarthritis. 6 Regarding the relationship between boron intake and the prevalence inflammatory joint diseases, many researchers have discovered that abundant intake of dietary boron can confer strong protection against the development of these diseases.…”

Menaquinones, Bacteria, and Foods: Vitamin K2 in the Diet

“…After many years of focusing on calcium as the beneficial element for bone health in dairy, recent evidence suggests that other macro-and micronutrients, as well as food components such as bioactive peptides, milk fat globule membrane, prebiotics, and probiotics present in milk and dairy products, play an important role in this health outcome [56]. Many of these nutrients support the bioavailability (phosphorus, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, potassium), absorption (casein phosphopeptides, phosphorus, lactose, protein) and homeostasis (magnesium, potassium, vitamin D) of calcium and contribute to bone-building properties (phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and vitamin K) [56][57][58].…”

Disorders of bone-mineral metabolism and their correction with women who have body weight deficiency at pregravid stage and during pregnancy

“…Vitamin D deficiency is considered one of the main problems in Healthcare all over the world and according to World Health Organization it has pandemic character [2]. Among the causes of disorders of bone tissue metabolism with the pregnant, body weight deficiency (BWD) plays a significant role as the result of alimentary factor, in particular, insufficient consumption of protein, calcium, vitamin D with food [5]. It also has been proved that BWD is one of the leading factors of osteopenia and osteoporosis formation [6], and women with low body weight are at risk on reduction of bone tissue mineral density [2].…”