Bone Health

Last Updated: October 17, 2022

Bone health refers to the strength of bones and the quality of bone structure. Bone health is usually measured as bone mineral density. Bone health is affected by nutrient intake, hormonal regulation, exercise, and age, among other factors.

Bone Health falls under theJoints & Bonescategory.

What is bone health?

Bones are dynamic, specialized connective tissue that play an integral role in maintaining the proper functioning of the body. Healthy bones are strong and dense, and play the following essential roles in the body:

  • providing support for body structure and muscle attachment, allowing us to move and exercise freely
  • protecting vital organs
  • housing bone marrow, where blood and bone cells are formed
  • participating in hormonal homeostasis
  • serving as a storage depot for minerals like calcium and phosphorus

Given this remarkable range of responsibilities, bone health is multifaceted and inextricably linked to other organ systems (e.g., muscular, endocrine, and gastrointestinal).

How is bone health measured?

Bone health is first assessed by a medical provider through a detailed history and physical exam, which may include validated risk factor screening tools for bone-related issues. Findings from this assessment dictate whether and how bone health will be measured. Bone mineral density (BMD) is the most common way to measure someone’s bone health.

How does physical activity affect bone health?

An appropriate and well-designed exercise program is an excellent way to preserve and improve bone health. Not only does exercise increase BMD, but it also protects against falls/injuries through enhanced muscle strength, balance, and coordination. The exercises that are most beneficial for bone health vary somewhat depending on one’s age and comorbidities, but resistance training (like weight lifting),[1] plyometrics (like bodyweight jumps),[2] weight-bearing exercises (like running and stair climbing),[3] and activities that promote multidirectional loading of bone tissue (like playing sports)[4] are all effective for promoting bone health. Resistance training may be especially important for postmenopausal individuals and older adults who are at higher risk of osteoporosis.[1][5]

It is important to note that too much exercise may be detrimental to bone health. Excessive exercise without adequate recovery and nutrition may result in a condition known as relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), which is characterized by decreased bone mass.[6]

Have any supplements been studied for bone health?

Calcium and vitamin D have been extensively studied for their effect on bone health in a variety of populations. Although a diet that contains adequate calcium and vitamin D is important for bone health, there is little evidence that calcium supplements — administered with or without vitamin D — reduce the risk of fractures.[7] However, calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation may confer a small benefit to BMD and reduce fracture risk in two groups of people: those with extremely low baseline levels of calcium or vitamin D, and older adults who are at an increased risk of osteoporosis.[8]

Other supplements that may affect bone health can be found in the Examine Database for bone health, below.

How can diet affect bone health?

A well-balanced diet that matches a person’s energy needs is important for bone health. Three nutrients that are particularly vital for bones are calcium, vitamin D, and protein. These nutrients contribute to establishing peak bone mass in childhood, and, in adults, they maintain bone mass and prevent bone loss with age. Low-protein diets are associated with reduced bone mass and fracture risk in older adults.[9] A lack of vitamin D and calcium can cause soft, weak bones in children, a condition known as rickets. In adults, this condition is known as osteomalacia.[10]

Other beneficial nutrients for bone health include copper, zinc, fluoride, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, vitamin K, and omega-3 fatty acids.[11][12] Diets that contain fruits and vegetables (e.g., the Mediterranean diet), dairy products, seafood, and a low intake of alcohol, caffeine, and sodium are all associated with better bone health.[11]

The best diet for bone health also depends on a person’s pre-existing medical conditions. For example, a gluten-free diet may improve bone mass in people with celiac disease.[13]

Which other factors can affect bone health?

Having underweight, smoking cigarettes, being a woman, being of white or Asian descent, having a family history of osteoporosis, and long-term use of certain medications (including corticosteroids, breast cancer treatments, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and proton pump inhibitors) are risk factors for poor bone health.[14][15]

Certain diseases may elevate the risk for poor bone health. These include anorexia, cancer, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, liver or kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disorders, lupus, alcohol use disorder, Cushing’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.[16]

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References
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  5. ^Exercise for Your Bone Health
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  11. ^Cashman KDDiet, nutrition, and bone health.J Nutr.(2007-11)
  12. ^Sahni S, Mangano KM, McLean RR, Hannan MT, Kiel DPDietary Approaches for Bone Health: Lessons from the Framingham Osteoporosis Study.Curr Osteoporos Rep.(2015-Aug)
  13. ^Mosca C, Thorsteinsdottir F, Abrahamsen B, Rumessen JJ, Händel MNNewly Diagnosed Celiac Disease and Bone Health in Young Adults: A Systematic Literature Review.Calcif Tissue Int.(2022-06)
  14. ^Bone Health for Life: Health Information Basics for You and Your Family
  15. ^How to keep your bones healthy
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  17. ^Bone Mass Measurement: What the Numbers Mean
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  21. ^Martyn-St James M, Carroll SMeta-analysis of walking for preservation of bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.Bone.(2008-Sep)
  22. ^A Ram Hong, Sang Wan KimEffects of Resistance Exercise on Bone HealthEndocrinol Metab (Seoul).(2018 Dec)
  23. ^Santos L, Elliott-Sale KJ, Sale CExercise and bone health across the lifespan.Biogerontology.(2017-12)
  24. ^Azzolino D, Spolidoro GCI, Saporiti E, Luchetti C, Agostoni C, Cesari MMusculoskeletal Changes Across the Lifespan: Nutrition and the Life-Course Approach to Prevention.Front Med (Lausanne).(2021)
  25. ^de Sire A, de Sire R, Curci C, Castiglione F, Wahli WRole of Dietary Supplements and Probiotics in Modulating Microbiota and Bone Health: The Gut-Bone Axis.Cells.(2022-02-21)
  26. ^René Rizzoli, Emmanuel Biver, Tara C Brennan-SperanzaNutritional intake and bone healthLancet Diabetes Endocrinol.(2021 Sep)
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  5. Bone Mineral Density - Agustina Malpeli, María Apezteguia, José L Mansur, Alicia Armanini, Melisa Macías Couret, Rosa Villalobos, Marta Kuzminczuk, Horacio F GonzalezCalcium supplementation, bone mineral density and bone mineral content. Predictors of bone mass changes in adolescent mothers during the 6-month postpartum periodArch Latinoam Nutr.(2012 Mar)
  6. Bone Mineral Density - Marissa M Shams-White, Mei Chung, Zhuxuan Fu, Karl L Insogna, Micaela C Karlsen, Meryl S LeBoff, Sue A Shapses, Joachim Sackey, Jian Shi, Taylor C Wallace, Connie M WeaverAnimal Versus Plant Protein and Adult Bone Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis From the National Osteoporosis FoundationPLoS One.(2018 Feb 23)
  7. Bone Mineral Density - Tao Li, Yanhong Li, Shanshan WuComparison of human bone mineral densities in subjects on plant-based and omnivorous diets: a systematic review and meta-analysisArch Osteoporos.(2021 Jun 18)
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  17. Bone Mineral Density - Shea MK, Dallal GE, Dawson-Hughes B, Ordovas JM, O'Donnell CJ, Gundberg CM, Peterson JW, Booth SLVitamin K, circulating cytokines, and bone mineral density in older men and womenAm J Clin Nutr.(2008 Aug)
  18. Bone Mineral Density - Koitaya N, Sekiguchi M, Tousen Y, Nishide Y, Morita A, Yamauchi J, Gando Y, Miyachi M, Aoki M, Komatsu M, Watanabe F, Morishita K, Ishimi YLow-dose vitamin K2 (MK-4) supplementation for 12 months improves bone metabolism and prevents forearm bone loss in postmenopausal Japanese womenJ Bone Miner Metab.(2013 May 24)
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