Nutrition and osteoporosis prevention and treatment
- Department of biochemistry and nutrition, Faculty of medicine, Zanjan university of medical scinces, Zanjan, Iran
- Student research committee, Fasa university of medical sciences, Fasa, Iran
- Assistant professor of internal medicine, Department of internal medicine, Imam hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of medical science, Tehran, Iran
- MSc Student of physical activity and health promotion, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, neuromusculoskeletal research center , Iran university of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Noncommunicable diseases research center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
- Research Center of Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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.