Maintaining strong, healthy bones is a cornerstone to successful aging. Unfortunately, even health-conscious adults often fail to consume enough calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients shown to protect against age-related loss of bone mineral density.
Throughout life, cells known as osteoblasts construct bone matrix and fill it with calcium. At the same time, cells called osteoclasts work just as busily to tear down and reabsorb the bone. This fine balance is regulated by many factors, including systemic hormones and cytokines. Bone mass reaches its peak by the middle of the third decade of life and plateaus for about ten years, during which time bone turnover is constant, with bone formation approximately equaling bone resorption.
As our bodies age, this fine balance is lost. As the relative hormone levels shift in midlife - more drastically in women than in men - the osteoclasts gain the upper hand and bone mass begins dwindling away. Some bone is already being lost by the time women reach menopause, but the rate of loss can increase as much as tenfold during the first six years after menopause.
From midlife onward, bone health is threatened by overactive osteoclasts. To add to the problem, the osteoblasts may become less active from age 60 onward. Whereas trabecular (spongy-looking) bone in the vertebrae and elsewhere was formerly at risk from excess osteoclast activity, now the cortical (dense) bone of the hip, shin, pelvis, and other sites becomes more prone to fracturing because osteoblasts do not make enough of it.
Calcium is the most popular mineral supplement on the market, yet certain forms of calcium tablets are often poorly absorbed by the digestive systems of older people because of insufficient stomach acid. The Life Extension Foundation Buyers Club supplies calcium and almost all other mineral supplements only in the form of finely divided mineral powders within capsules that easily disintegrate in the stomach for optimal absorption. Studies have also shown that certain mineral compounds are absorbed better than others.
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body where it is primarily found in bones and teeth. In bone formation, calcium forms crystals that provide strength to maturing bone. Peak bone mass is usually achieved when people are in their 20's.
Calcium is needed for more than just healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction, blood vessel contraction and expansion, the secretion of hormones and enzymes, and sending messages through the nervous system. A meta-analysis of 56 clinical trials demonstrated a significant impact on heart health resulting from increasing calcium intake by 1000 to 2000 mg/day.11 In addition, recent evidence suggests that increased intake of calcium may help in weight control as well.
Magnesium is one of the body's most important minerals. It is required as a co-factor in hundreds of enzymatic processes within cells. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong.* Magnesium also helps to maintain blood sugar and blood pressure levels already within normal range, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.
Magnesium is a major factor in relaxing the smooth muscles within the blood vessels, thereby reducing peripheral vascular resistance and promoting a healthy cardiovascular system. Magnesium also affects circulating levels of norepinephrine and the synthesis of serotonin and nitric oxide.
In bone mineral health, magnesium (or lack of) influences the bone mineral matrix and its ability to metabolize minerals needed for repair and rebuilding. The scientific literature documents the need for a wide range of minerals that are vital to maintaining strong, healthy bones.*
Calcium and other minerals are best not taken with fiber, because fiber can interfere with their absorption. There is evidence that calcium from supplements and dairy foods may inhibit iron absorption, although it has been very difficult to distinguish between the effects of calcium on iron absorption versus other inhibitory factors such as phytate.
Therefore, if you are iron deficient, it may be best to avoid taking calcium with meals. Calcium supplements are best administered at dinner and/or bedtime. They should always be taken with a full glass of water, juice, or other liquid to enhance solubility. If calcium-containing formulas are taken only once daily they may be best taken in the evening.
Engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise, eating a variety of healthy foods, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol, can help maintain healthy bones. Foods that promote bone health include calcium sources - such as dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, legumes, canned salmon, and sardines - and dairy products like milk and cheese.
A problem overlooked by most doctors is that loss of bone density is associated with deficiencies of not just calcium, but a host of other nutrients including magnesium and vitamin D3. New research on vitamin D has led an increasing number of experts to advise men and women over the age of 50 to protect against bone loss by consuming 800-1000 IU (and higher) of vitamin D each day.
In order for calcium to prevent bone loss, adequate amounts of vitamin D3, zinc, manganese and other nutrients should be available so that calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus can be incorporated into the bone matrix. Another issue that many people are not aware of is that many forms of calcium do not absorb particularly well.
In order to overcome the impediments that preclude aging women and men from achieving optimal calcium status, a mineral formula has been designed that provides 1200 elemental milligrams from three different forms of calcium per daily dose, along with critically important nutrients needed to promote healthy bones. Bone Restore delivers a potent dose of magnesium, along with nutrients that enable calcium and magnesium to be incorporated in the bone matrix, like boron and silicon to further boost the body's ability to maintain healthy bone density.
Boron has been identified as one of the most important nutrients to help maintain bone health. As such, Life Extension has incorporated a powerful form of boron, called FruiteX B® OsteoBoron™, which is more bioavailable than boron citrate, the nutrient used in most commercial bone building supplements.
FruiteX B® OsteoBoron™ is made from a naturally occurring boron complex found in fruits and vegetables. Its unique boron-carbohydrate structure that easily binds to fructose may be one of the reasons for its health benefits. Boron in general is a crucial mineral in bone/joint health. Numerous studies have shown boron to contribute to the structural integrity of bone.
