Nutraceuticals and bone health

Abstract

The use of dietary supplement or nutraceutical in the past month exceeded 50 % in US adults with higher rates in individuals with chronic disease. Although calcium and vitamin D are important, various other nutrients may also provide benefit to the skeleton. The relationship between soy compounds and skeletal health is inconclusive. Dehydroepiandrosterone has not been shown to benefit the skeleton even in elderly with low serum levels. There is no clear skeletal benefit from various antioxidants, flavonoids, carotenoids, omega-3-fatty acids, and various vitamins with only limited observational data and small clinical trials. In addition, in some cases pharmacologic doses have been investigated. High homocysteine may relate to fracture risk, but whether this risk is reduced by any B vitamins is unclear. There is no clear relationship between bone health and nutritional intake of magnesium, boron, strontium, silicon, and phosphorus.