Bone Health Diet

1. Provide the ingredients of bone

Protein, phosphorous and calcium are the chief ingredients of bone. Adequate intake of these ingredients through diet is essential for bone health. Around 1.0 g of protein per kg of body weight per day is the adequate amount required for most people, over the age of ten. The adequate intake of phosphorous and calcium in most people are 1.25 g per day and 800-1500 mg per day respectively. Given below is a chart that shows the calorie and calcium content of a variety of foods.

Calorie and calcium content of selected food

2. Reduce calcium losses from the body

The body loses calcium in three ways – through urine, gut secretions and sweat. One can avoid bone loss if the absorption of calcium from food in the gut balances its loss. If the loss of calcium does not get balanced, the body will ultimately take calcium from bone to keep the required calcium level in the blood intact. If loss of calcium in an individual’s body exceeds absorption from the gut by 30 mg per day, the bone will lose 1% of its calcium each year. People who have typical North American and European dietary habits can lose calcium by the intake of four dietary components – high sodium, high protein, low potassium and low bi-carbonate.

Due to the increased or decreased intake of these components, the additional calcium losses can be as follows :

• Increasing sodium intake from 1000 to 4000 mg/ day increases loathe s of calcium by 52 mg/ day
• Increasing protein intake from 40 to 100 g/ day increases loathe s of calcium by 66 mg/ day
• Decreasing potassium intake from 8000 to 2000 mg/ day increases loathe s of calcium by 31 mg/day
• Decreasing bi-carbonate intake from 100 to 20 mmol/ day increases loathe s of calcium by 32 mg/ day

3. Make absorption of calcium from the gut easy

Foods can be categorised depending on their calcium content and the increase and decrease of calcium losses they cause. To boost bone health, one needs to consume foods that contain a high amount of calcium but cause fewer calcium losses. These types of food are considered to be ideal and therefore ca,n benefit everyone. Kale and spring greens (leafy vegetables) are the finest examples of such foods. Though dairy foods provide a high content of calcium, they also cause high calcium losses. Foods like meat, fish and eggs have less content of calcium but are responsible for high calcium losses, upsetting the calcium balance. Low calcium foods like peppers, bananas and oranges provide a modest boost as well as reduce calcium losses. Fruits and vegetables are ideal foods for those looking to improve their calcium balance. They have a rich content of potassium and bi-carbonate and these components help reduce calcium losses. Though increased intake of protein leads to calcium losses, adequate protein intake is always essential both for muscles and bones.

4. Make absorption of calcium from bone difficult

Reduce the intake of sodium and increase the intake of potassium and bi-carbonate to reduce calcium losses. For instance, a reduction in salt intake by 5 g/ day will eliminate 2000 mg of sodium. This, in turn, will reduce your calcium losses by about 35 mg/ day. The intake of potassium and bi-carbonate can be increased by taking fruits and vegetables. In this case, legumes can be the source of protein, rather than meat, fish or egg. Reduction in calcium losses can also be brought about by having green leafy vegetables in lieu of dairy products. Reducing calcium losses while at the same time consuming an adequate amount of calcium (1000 mg/ day) can really lead to a sturdy bone foundation. Loss of calcium from the bone will reduce if calcium is promptly available from food in the gut.

5. Promote bone strength independently of bone mass

The building of bone mass and its demolition is an ongoing process. Bone is comprised of osteoblast cells while it is destroyed by osteoclast cells. The renewal and the repair of bone depend on these two types of cells. To make the bone resistant to the demand of releasing calcium in the blood, it is essential to bolster the osteoblast activity, as compared to the osteoclast activity. As the bones become more and more resistant to the demand, the body will meet its calcium losses by absorption from food in the gut. Growth hormones, particularly in childhood and adolescence, act as a stimulating agent for the osteoblast activity. But as growth hormones decline with age, the promotion of positive calcium balance becomes unlikely in older people. Oestrogen, the levels of which also decline with age, also plays a vital role in keeping the calcium balance positive. A chief protein component of bone, osteocalcin is produced by osteoblast cells. Carboxylated osteocalcin can effectively bind with calcium. Elevated undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) leads to risk fracture and reduced bone density. Elevated ucOC can be adjusted by increasing the intake of vitamin K, found in green leafy vegetables, broccoli, fermented soya products, natto etc. An increased intake of vitamin K (250 mg/ day) can reduce fracture risk by almost 65%.

Along with plenty of calcium intake, vitamin K also plays an important role in ensuring a beneficial effect of increased levels of vitamin D. To determine the adequate intake of vitamin D for individuals, serum 25 (OH)D is considered to be the chief indicator. Vitamin D is scantily available in food, except a few including fish liver oil, the flesh of fatty fish, liver and fat of aquatic mammals etc. Vitamin D content in fish is around 1600 IU/ 100 gm. People mostly fulfil their vitamin D intake requirement through fortified milk products and other fortified food. Both sunlights and diet are considered to be the essential source of vitamin D for people between the age of 19 – 30 and 31- 50. Supplement users (both men and women) are recommended 200 IU/ day intake of vitamin

Recommended Dietary Intake of Vitamin D

Children – 10 micrograms (400 IU)/ day
Adults (up to 50 years) – 5 micrograms (200 IU)/ day (An additional dose of 5 micrograms/ day will be required during pregnancy and lactation)
Adults (51 – 70 years) – 10 micrograms (400 IU)/ day
Adults (above 70 years) – 15 micrograms (600 IU)/ day

Vitamin D Content of Some Foods

[Milk, meat, fruit and vegetables are not rich sources of vitamin D.]

Fish is the only rich natural source of vitamin D. Fish like herring, catfish, salmon, mackerel, tuna and eel are some examples of fatty fish that contain a good amount of vitamin D.

Cod Liver Oil: 1 Tbs (15 ml) = 1360 IU of Vit D

Elderly people, dark-skinned people and those who are exposed to inadequate Ultraviolet radiation (i.e. sunlight) consume extra doses of vitamin D from vitamin D fortified food and supplements. Individuals who fall in this high-risk group need to consume 25 MG (1000 IU) of vitamin D every day to control the adequate blood concentrations of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, the biomarker for vitamin D status.