Osteoporosis prevention and nutrition

Abstract

Although calcium and vitamin D have been the primary focus of nutritional prevention of osteoporosis, recent research has clarified the importance of several additional nutrients and food constituents. Further, results of calcium and vitamin D supplementation trials have been inconsistent, suggesting that reliance on this intervention may be inadequate. In addition to dairy, fruit and vegetable intake has emerged as an important modifiable protective factor for bone health. Several nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, several B vitamins, and carotenoids, have been shown to be more important than previously realized. Rather than having a negative effect on bone, protein intake appears to benefit bone status, particularly in older adults. Regular intake of cola beverages shows negative effects and moderate alcohol intake shows positive effects on bone, particularly in older women. Current research on diet and bone status supports encouragement of balanced diets with plenty of fruit and vegetables, adequate dairy and other protein foods, and limitation of foods with low nutrient density.

Role of vitamin D in immune responses and autoimmune diseases, with emphasis on its role in multiple sclerosis

“…The principal physiological function of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 is enhancing the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the intestinal tract, therefore positively regulating bone formation [9][10][11] . To date, several lines of epidemiological and experimental findings have supported the links of vitamin D with various conditions or diseases beyond bone health [3] , including muscle function [12,13] , autoimmune diseases [14] , cancer [15,16] , cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [17][18][19] , hypertension [20,21] , diabetes [22] , inflammatory diseases [23] , and all-cause mortality [24] , etc.…”

“…Bone health osteomalacia, osteoporosis [3] Muscle function muscle weakness [7,8] Autoimmunity multiple sclerosis, Crohn disease, diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59] Cancer breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, endometrial cancers, etc.…”

“…Under UV irradiation, cholecalciferol (vitamin D 3 ) is synthesized in the skin from 7-dehydrocholesterol. Then, 25- , the main circulatory and physiologically active forms, are produced in the human body by hydroxylation of cholecalciferol [2] .…”

“…Then, 25- , the main circulatory and physiologically active forms, are produced in the human body by hydroxylation of cholecalciferol [2] . In addition to the traditional role in bone health [3] , the discovery of VDR on various tissue types has extended the roles of vitamin D. Vitamin D has been hypothesized to be an important environmental factor that is associated with a number of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), affecting more women than men [4] .…”

Cardiovascular calcification and bone: a comparison of the effects of dietary and serum antioxidants

“…Although tea contains caffeine, levels are relatively low. 109 alcoholism has often been associated with osteoporosis but other studies have shown a protective effect, with a J-shaped dose/response curve with 1-2 drinks per day correlating with improved BMd in postmenopausal women; when stratified by type of alcohol, wine gave the greatest benefit in women and beer in men, while spirits gave the lowest BMd 110 . In vitro studies have also shown that resveratrol is active in osteoblastic MC3t3-e1 cells and may have a synergistic effect with vitamin D in promoting bone health 111 .…”