Bone health: the role of micronutrients

Development and maintenance of skeletal health is essential since the resul tant effect of poor bone health is an increased risk of osteoporotic fractu re. Osteoporosis is currently a major public health problem and with predic ted demographic changes, its future health and economic impact is likely to be phenomenal. Adult bone health is predominantly governed by two factors: (i) maximum attainment of peak bone mass; and (ii) rate of bone loss which occurs with ageing. Both aspects are determined by a combination of endoge nous and exogenous factors and, although genetic influences are believed to account for up to three-quarters of the variation in bone mass, there is s till room for the modifiable factors (including nutrition) to play an impor tant role. There is now good evidence to show that calcium is important not only to peak bone mass development but also in reducing bone loss in women who are greater than 5 years postmenopause. Vitamin D and calcium land pos sibly vitamin K) are vital to fracture prevention in the elderly. Our knowl edge of the influence of other micronutrients on bone health remains limite d and further research is required to establish the essential ingredients f or optimum bone health.