When it comes to keeping bones healthy, many people know about vitamin D, which helps absorb the calcium needed to strengthen the skeleton. But while vitamin D remains the star, researchers in recent years have documented the importance of other vitamins in protecting against bone fractures and osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones. .
A recent journal article reviewing numerous laboratory and observational studies and a small number of human clinical trials uncovered significant evidence supporting the importance of vitamins A, B, C, E, and K.
“The stage of research varies from vitamin to vitamin,” but points to the fact that bone formation is a complex process that requires multiple nutrients, said Beth, a senior scientist at Tufts University’s Center for Aging and Nutrition Research. Dawson Hughes says. Although he was not involved in this review, he has been studying the effects of nutrition on bones for many years.
When it comes to these vitamins, more is not necessarily better. Review articles state that supplementing with certain vitamins in large doses can damage bones.
While it’s important to go from low to optimal levels, increasing your intake beyond that will interfere with the bone-forming process, says Dawson-Hughes. However, for vitamins above D, exactly what their optimal levels are has not yet been determined.
