Healthy bones are essential for optimal health and mobility (1-3). There are a number of risk factors that may increase the risk of poor bone health, many of which are preventable, including diet and physical activity (1,2).
Nutrient requirements for bones change throughout the life cycle and assessment of these needs should occur, especially in individuals with risk factors for osteoporosis (1,2). Osteoporosis is a chronic bone disease with nutritional implications for both prevention and treatment.
Calcium is the predominant mineral in bone and is essential for healthy bone growth and maintenance (3). Vitamin D helps calcium absorption, significantly increases bone mineral density and can help reduce the risk of fracture (3). Dietary treatments are not used alone to treat osteoporosis, but they are important adjuncts to medical/pharmacological therapies (2).
This toolkit discusses the following key nutrition issues:
- gastrointestinal disease (Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease) screening and osteoporosis
- effects of foods and key nutrients on bone health (diet pattern, lower carbohydrate/higher protein diets, coffee, tea, alcohol, carbonated beverages)
- food and key nutrients for the prevention of osteoporosis (diet pattern, probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic, silcon, magnesium, fluoride, vitamin C, E, K2 and zinc supplements, nutraceuticals, calcium and vitamin D (D2, D3) (food and supplements)
- foods and key nutrients for the treatment of osteoporosis (vitamin D (D2,D3) and calcium (food and supplements), fluoride, magnesium, vitamin K2, C, E, zinc, probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic supplements).