Q What is osteoporosis?
A Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and increased risk of fractures.
Q How do I know if I am at risk of osteoporosis?
A Do you drink coffee? Are you on a diet? Are you female and over 35 years? Did you undergo menopause before the age of 45? Do you regularly drink heavily (in excess of safe drinking limits?) Do you smoke? Are you on a high protein diet? Are you underweight? Are you pregnant or nursing? Are you a serious athlete?
Q How much Calcium do I need everyday to keep my bones healthy and strong?
A Getting sufficient dietary Calcium throughout life is required to maximise our bone density and strength. As we age, Calcium is absorbed less effectively from the intestine, so that intake needs to be increased. When the body no longer replaces Calcium fast enough to keep the bones healthy, they become thinner and weaker, resulting in osteoporosis and increasing the risk of fractures.
Adults up to the age of 51 years should aim to consume at least 2 serves of Calcium-rich foods a day to reach a total intake of 1000mg/day1. Postmenopausal women should aim for at least 3 serves of Calcium-rich foods to reach a total daily intake of 1000-1300mg/day2. For adults over 70 years, 1300mg of Calcium a day is recommended.3
Q Why is vitamin K2 needed for healthy strong bones?
A Vitamin K2 is essential for utilising Calcium in the body and works with vitamin D3 to deposit Calcium into the bones. Clinical studies have shown that vitamin K is vital in supporting bone health.4 It increases the production of a special protein, called osteocalcin, which is necessary to use Calcium to build healthy bone tissue. Whilst osteocalcin activates osteoblasts, the cells that build bone, vitamin K2 helps to inhibit osteoclasts, the cells that break bone down.
Natural vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7 (Mk-7) is the most bioavailable, longest lasting and most bioactive form of vitamin K.
Q How does Boron and vitamin D3 support bone density?
A Boron is important in preventing Calcium loss, as it improves Calcium absorption and reduces the amount of Calcium and Magnesium excreted in the urine. Ensuring optimal boron intake becomes increasingly important as we age, especially because of boron’s essential role in protecting bone health.
Boron plays an integral part in bone metabolism, as it supports the functions of Calcium, Magnesium and vitamin D3, all of which are critical for promoting dense, healthy bone tissue.
Vitamin D3 also plays an important role in bone building, allowing the body to absorb Calcium, and for maintaining the proper balance of Calcium and Phosphorus.
Vitamin D3 can be formed in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. However, many people do not produce enough vitamin D3 or obtain enough from food. Also it must be converted to the active form. Vitamin D3 deficiency can be a problem for older people and those who are homebound or bed-ridden.
Vitamin D3 is essential for bone health, because it helps increase the absorption of Calcium and Phosphorus
from the stomach to regulate the amount of Calcium in the blood to strengthen the skeleton.
A deficiency of vitamin D3 can contribute to osteoporosis because, without it, Calcium will not be fully absorbed by your body. Vitamin D3 is found in small quantities in a few foods (e.g. fatty fish – salmon, herring, mackerel – liver, eggs, fortified foods).
Vitamin D3 is often referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because the skin makes it from ultraviolet rays. Recent studies show many people aren’t getting enough vitamin D3 and that it may not be converted to the active form. Low vitamin D3 intakes are associated with low bone density and immune dysfunction.