Nutrition and Bone Health

Abstract

This book contains 36 informative chapters. The book chapters are logically organized to provide the reader with all of the basics in both bone biology and nutrition in the first section, Basics of Nutrition and Bone Biology. Unique chapters in this section include the evolution of humans and the role of diet in the development of bone, bone physiology and the genetics of bone development. Assessment tools for both bone (with a detailed chapter that provides guidelines for use of dual X-ray absorptiometry equipment for accurate assessment of bone mineral density) and diet (including evaluation of food frequency, diary, and recall methodologies), as well as an in-depth analysis of the methods to measure calcium status including the newest stable isotope opportunities are provided in unique chapters. Specialized topics such as fracture healing, as well as the critical role of diet in the maintenance of healthy teeth and bones of the oral cavity, are reviewed in separate, comprehensive chapters. Discussions of the roles of growth factors, hormones, cellular and nuclear receptors and their ligands, gene promoters, prostaglandins, lymphocytes, muscle, adipose tissue and all of the cells directly involved in bone biology are included in well-organized chapters that put the molecular aspects into clinical perspective. Separate sections include Nutrition and Bone: Effect of Life Stages and Race, Effects of Dietary Macronutrients, Minerals and Fat-Soluble Vitamins/Micronutrients. Areas covered in these sections include separate chapters for each sex and age group (including detailed discussions of the effects of puberty, pregnancy, lactation, menopause, and male osteoporosis) and a chapter on the skeletal health of blacks. Novel chapters that are of great interest to clients and patients include chapters on vegetarian diets, fluoride, and lead toxicity as well as the pluses and minuses of vitamin K and vitamin A for bone health. The last two sections of the book include chapters dealing with lifestyle effects, supplements, and diseases/disorders that result in secondary osteoporosis. Areas such as smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise and obesity are critically reviewed. A separate chapter that examines the importance of evaluating the diet based on the effects of food groups, such as fruits and vegetables, is also included. The role of protein and acid-base balance in maintaining bone integrity is analysed in separate, yet complementary chapters. Supplemental intakes of omega-3 fatty acids, soy, and other sources of phytoestrogens are reviewed with regard to the potential to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Separate, extensively referenced chapters are provided in the areas of eating disorders, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Hallmarks of the chapters include complete definition of terms, with the abbreviation fully defined for the reader, and consistent use of terms between chapters. There are numerous relevant tables, graphs, and figures as well as up-to-date references; all chapters include a conclusion section that provides the highlights of major findings. The volume contains a highly annotated index and, within chapters, readers are referred to relevant information in other chapters.