Bone Health and Osteoporosis

The calcium and other nutrients in milk products are essential for building and maintaining strong bones during childhood, reducing bone loss during adulthood and preventing osteoporosis.

Synopsis: Bone Health and Osteoporosis

Bone health is important for overall health and quality of life and is dependent on bone mass, bone architecture and body mechanics.^1,2 Optimal bone health status is crucial to prevent osteoporosis, which is a disease characterized by low bone mass and bone microarchitectural deterioration, leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fracture.^2,3

Keywords: bone health , osteoporosis

How Does Milk Product Consumption Affect Fracture Risk?

The relationship between milk product consumption and bone fracture risk has been examined in several studies, including a meta-analysis. Overall, the evidence suggests that milk product consumption is not associated with an increased risk of bone fracture, and may even decrease its risk.

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Definitions, Situation of Osteoporosis in Canada and Risk Factors

Osteoporosis is a disease with its roots in childhood, as bone size, strength, and mineralization peak in one's 20s. Since bone mass declines with advancing age and menopause, individuals who attain optimal peak bone mass during their younger years will have an advantage as they get older. Although it is largely genetically predetermined, peak bone mass is not always attained due to inadequate calcium and vitamin D intakes, poor overall nutrition, lack of physical activity, and other factors such as smoking.¹

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Bone Health: Studies in Adults and the Elderly

A 2015 meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials (n = 1,533) by Tai et al. examined whether increasing calcium from dietary sources affects bone mineral density.1 Increasing calcium intake from dietary sources led to a small increase in bone mineral density (by 0.6%-1.8%) at...
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Bone Health: Studies in Children and Adolescents

There is consistent evidence that milk and milk products play an important role in the development of strong and healthy bones in children and adolescents and in helping them achieve peak bone mass.

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Milk Products and Bone Health: Potential Mechanisms

Milk products contain many nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, protein and phosphorus, which play a key role in the formation and maintenance of optimal bone health.

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Vitamin D and Bone Health

It is well known that vitamin D influences the development and maintenance of bone mass and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Furthermore, it is also thought to improve lower limb neuromuscular function.

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Role of Protein in Bone Health

In a review paper by renowned bone health expert Robert P. Heaney and protein metabolism expert Donald K. Layman, the evidence related to protein and bone health was examined:1 Loss of bone mass (osteopenia) and loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia) that occur with age are closely related;...
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Role of Other Nutrients in Bone Health

Nutrients other than calcium and vitamin D that have been implicated in bone health are outlined in Table 2.

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Role of Calcium Supplements in Bone Health

Several studies have demonstrated that milk products are superior to calcium supplements alone, likely due to the role of other nutrients found in milk products that have also been shown to be important for bone health. Only one head-to-head study has addressed the role of calcium...
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