The decrease in calcium, especially in women older than 35 years, can contribute to the development of Osteoporosis. The primary cause of Osteoporosis, however, is the disturbance of the body’s capacity to properly utilize the available calcium. At a young age reproductive hormones stimulate the absorption of calcium in the small intestine and as a result strengthen bones. As individuals grow older, the concentration of reproductive hormones decrease, and as a result, so does the body’s absorption of calcium. The calcium Osteoporosis treatment is essential for older individuals, but hormonal preparations for the best utilization of calcium can be beneficial for much younger ages. Recommendations: consume 1.5 g of calcium daily.
Calcium acts together with magnesium; the latter is necessary for activating the biochemical reactions responsible for the formation of new bone. Recommendations: consume at least 1 mg of Magnesium supplement with every 2 mg dose of calcium (that is, take a daily dose of 750 mg of Magnesium if taking the recommended dose of 1500 mg of calcium). Any individual undergoing calcium Osteoporosistreatment necessarily must take a Magnesium supplement, as well.
Low levels of manganese, an essential mineral necessary for the formation of bone tissue, can also lead to Osteoporosis, also commonly known as Brittle bone Disease. Recommendations: consume 20-40 mg of manganese (or an amino-acid complex of manganese) daily.
Folic acid is necessary for the proper formation of collagen, which is an essential component of healthy bone. Recommendations: consume 1 mg of Folic acid daily together with sufficient amounts of B vitamins; the B vitamins usually act together. Warning: this dose of Folic acid can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency. Read the description of both these vitamins and ask your doctor to regularly check your vitamin B12 levels.
The scarcity of vitamin B12 can disrupt proper function of the osteoblasts, which are bone cells that construct bone. When these cells do not function normally, the osteoclasts cells destroy bone cells without any corresponding regeneration by the osteblasts. As this continues the bone increasingly loses density and becomes thinner. As a result, Brittle bone Disease develops.
The effective absorption of calcium in the bowels is largely regulated by the consumption of a substantial quantity of Vitamin D. Recommendations: Regular, short periods of outdoors exposure allow the sun’s solar rays to assist the skin synthesize Vitamin D. Also, consume a 400-800 IU (10-20 mg) preparation of Vitamin D3 daily. Multiple studies have show that Vitamin d3 deficiency is much more common than previously considered. Checking Vitamin D3 levels occasionally may be prudent.
Improper levels of Vitamin K can cause the body to lose excess amounts of calcium with the urine. The net loss of Calcium may significantly increase the risk of bone fracture. Since the enteric bacteria usually synthesize a sufficient amount of Vitamin K, few individuals are actually deficient. Nonetheless, patients undergoing prolonged or frequent courses of treatment with antibiotics destroy the functional bacteria of the large bowel and may experience a loss of Vitamin K. Recommendations: It is important to maintain good intestinal flora. This can be ensured by including yogurt, buttermilk or sweet acidophilus milk in your daily diet. If you are lactose intolerant and cannot eat dairy products, a Probiotic supplement should work well. Take two to three capsules of this supplement every day. Newer studies have shown that Vitamin k supplementationin the “k-2” form may play significant role in the prevention of Osteoporosis.
The daily consumption of the Boron mineral may help avert the loss of calcium and magnesium in the urine, and therefore prevent Osteoporosis. One study showed that the Boron mineralmay even decrease the pain associated with advanced osteoporosis. Recommendations: consume 3 mg of boron daily.
The Zinc mineral can boost the effectiveness of Vitamin D3. It ensures the best utilization of calcium in the body and its use for the formation of new bone. A Zinc mineral insufficiency is a common precursor of Brittle bone Disease. Zinc insufficiency is frequently observed in older individuals, an age group that, coincidentally, has a high incidence of Osteoporosis sufferers. Although beneficial to individuals of all ages, Zinc mineral preparations are especially recommended to older individuals to prevent Osteoporosis. Recommendations: consume 20-50 mg of Zinc mineral daily. Warning: the consumption of zinc in the ionic form can lead to the reduction of other micro cells, like Copper mineral, as a result of the competitory absorption in the small intestine. So, supplementing Copper mineral could help prevent Brittle bone Disease.