Osteoben® is a vitamin and mineral blend formulated to support bone strength and health. Osteoben® provides nutrients and other compounds necessary for the physical structure and proper maintenance of bone tissue. The nutrients delivered in Osteoben® are available naturally in food (or can be synthesized with exposure to sunlight, as with vitamin D), but many people do not consume adequate amounts of these nutrients and may need supplementation to reach optimal levels, particularly if they are already experiencing a decline in bone health. Additionally, various pharmaceutical drugs and medical conditions may increase the need for these nutrients above that which would typically be obtained from diet alone. Studies evaluating calcium or vitamin D as single interventions for improvement of bone density are often disappointing. Bone is complex tissue that requires multifaceted support; synergy between the ingredients in Osteoben® may produce better results than nutrients taken in isolation.
HIGHLIGHTS
Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc: The primacy of calcium for bone health is undeniable. Approximately 99% of the body’s calcium is found
in the skeleton and a large body of evidence indicates greater calcium intakes are associated with greater bone mass, reduced bone
loss and reduced risk for fractures.5-7 Among postmenopausal women not on estrogen therapy, greater total calcium intake (from foods
and supplements) is associated with higher whole body bone mineral density (BMD).8 However, bones are comprised of far more than
just calcium. They are also abundant in magnesium, housing approximately 60% of the body’s magnesium. Magnesium is needed for
formation of the cell-signaling molecule cAMP, which plays a role in secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH).9 As the magnesium
content of bone tissue decreases, the hydroxyapatite crystals may become larger and more brittle; research indicates that compared
to those of non-osteoporotic women, bones of women with the condition have lower magnesium content and larger hydroxyapatite
crystals.9 A small study of women with osteoporosis found that just 30 days of magnesium supplementation resulted in significantly
decreased serum PTH level and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD, a marker of bone resorption) with a significant increase in serum
osteocalcin, suggesting suppressed bone turnover.10 Other studies confirm that magnesium supplementation increases BMD and
reduces risk for fractures.
Studies involving calcium supplementation, including some that also supplemented vitamin D, indicate a modestly increased risk for
vascular events in subjects taking calcium. Researchers believe this may be due to suboptimal magnesium status and suggest supplementing magnesium in combination with calcium.13 (There may also be a role for vitamin K2, discussed in the next section.) A review looking at the relationship between magnesium and vitamin D status determined that magnesium is required for proper metabolism and activation of vitamin D for regulating calcium and phosphate homeostasis.14 Multiple enzymes involved in vitamin D metabolism require magnesium, yet between half and two-thirds of people in the US consume less than the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for this crucial mineral, which may be why studies employing vitamin D supplementation alone are often disappointing. Growing research supports magnesium repletion as an important aspect of vitamin D therapy.
Zinc plays an essential role in the structure of many proteins, including vitamin D receptors inside cells. Zinc is also needed for osteoblastic activity, collagen synthesis, and alkaline phosphatase activity.5 Poor zinc status may be an important predictor of bone loss;
researchers have written that urinary zinc may be considered a marker of bone resorption and that zinc supplementation may have
benefit for reducing fractures in postmenopausal women.19 Low serum zinc and increased zinc excretion are associated with risk for
osteoporosis, possibly owing to zinc deficiency-induced increase in the bone resorbing effect of prostaglandin E2.
Regarding interactions among these nutrients, dietary intake of magnesium, calcium and zinc in postmenopausal women with low bone
mineral density is substantially lower than the RDA and studies confirm that low serum levels of magnesium and zinc are associated
with osteoporosis and osteopenia in postmenopausal women.22-24 Higher dietary intakes of calcium, magnesium, zinc and protein are
associated with greater BMD in postmenopausal Caucasian women.
Legal Disclaimer
Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and different information than what is shown on our website.
We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product or Book with one of BodyCrafters Physicians / Naturopathic Doctors or a Certified Natural Product Advisor.
