Nutrition and osteoporosis prevention and treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoporosis falls among the major general health issues, specifically in the elderly, and is a widespread disease these days. According to various studies, good nutrition plays a significant role in osteoporosis prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was to conduct an extensive literature review on the effects of different nutrients to understand how macronutrients, micronutrients, and non-nutritive substances affect bone health.
 Methodology: To find relevant studies, the main keyword “osteoporosis” was searched in combination with “zinc,” “vitamin K,” “phosphorus,” “vitamin D,” “calcium,” “lipid,” “protein,” and “phytoestrogens” in PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, SID, and Iran Medex databases.
 Findings: The most important element for bone health is calcium, which has a direct link to the bone mass density (BMD). In the case of calcium deficiency, high phosphorus content can damage bone tissue. The acceptable ratio of phosphorus to calcium is 0.5-1.5:1. Vitamin D is another important nutrient for bones; serum levels of vitamin D less than 20 ng/ml reduce bone density and increase the risk of fracture. High protein intake results in calcium excretion and loss of bone mass. In addition, calcium deficiency increases the risk of osteoporosis, specifically in the elderly. According to the literature, there is an inverse correlation between saturated fats and BMD. Vitamin K and magnesium deficiencies are correlated with BMD reduction and increased risk of osteoporosis. Copper and zinc are used as co-factors in the formation of collagen and elastin, and in mineralization of bone. As a result, deficiency of these elements may disrupt the process of incorporating minerals into the bone matrix.
 Conclusion: Good nutrition may play a significant role in osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Indeed, a healthy diet containing calcium (1,200 mg/day); vitamin D (600 IU); and certain amounts of protein, magnesium, and vitamin K can contribute greatly to bone health.

The Role of Macronutrients, Micronutrients and Flavonoid Polyphenols in the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis

“…Calcium is the most important nutrient not only for bone health, but it is also essential for neuromuscular activity, heart rate regulation, immune function and other key physiological processes. In the human body, more than 99% of Ca is stored in the bones, specifically in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals [ 18 , 23 ]. Adequate Ca intake is essential for normal skeletal growth and development, as well as for bone mineralization.…”

“…In addition to pharmacotherapy, nutritional supplements and physical exercise are commonly used to prevent and treat osteoporosis [ 3 , 18 ]. Pharmacological treatment includes anti-resorptive drugs (e.g., bisphosphonates, estrogen replacement therapy, selective estrogen receptor modulators, calcitonin, denosumab, calcium and vitamin D supplementation), and anabolic drugs (e.g., teriparatide, abaloparatide, strontium ranelate, romosozumab) [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Impact of vitamin C level on osteoporosis of postmenopausal Iraqi women

“…However, a high intake of Phos, specifically when it is associated with a low intake of calcium, can be harmful. In contrast, an adequate intake of Phos is essential for bone formation during the growth ages because low serum Phos levels limit the formation and mineralization of bone (Hejazi et al, 2020). While negative correlation between Vit C and UA in osteoporosis group.…”

Efficacy of Dietary and Knowledge of Bone Health on Osteoporosis Prevention in Premenopausal Women

“…The high phosphorus and lack of calcium can lead to bone tissue damage and increases the chances of osteoporosis, so acceptable ratio of phosphorus and calcium is 0.5-1.5:1. The risk of bone fracture can be increased and bone density is reduced when vitamin D serum level is less than 20 ng/ml [12]. The observations revealed that the neutral or alkaline balanced food, potassium and calcium rich foods like fruits, vegetables and dairy products can be consumed throughout the life time to improve the bone health [13].…”