Anti-osteoporosis supplement program

Better Nutrition, July, 2004

Anti-Osteoporosis
Supplement Program

Susan Brown, MD, recommends the following in her
book Better Bones, Better Body (Keats Publishing):

Nutrient             Benefit                             Dosage

Calcium              Builds healthy bones                1,000-1,500
                                                         mg daily
Magnesium            Helps regulate calcium metabolism   450 mg daily
Boron                Helps regulate calcium, magnesium   no more than
                     and phosphorus metabolism           3 mg daily
Copper               Aids in bone formation              1.5-3.0 mg
                                                         daily
Manganese            Needed for cartilage and collagen   3.5-7.0 mg
                                                         daily
Phosphorus           Combines with calcium to form       1:1 ratio with
                     essential bone mineral salts        calcium
Silica               Needed for collagen                 No established
                                                         rate, possibly
                                                         20-30 mg
                                                         daily
Zinc                 Necessary for osteoblast and        12 mg daily
                     osteoclast formation and helps
                     manufacture collagen matrix that
                     holds bones together
Vitamin A            Helps increase osteoblasts, the     4,000-5,000
                     bone-building cells                 IU daily
Vitamin [B.sub.6]    Necessary for hydrochloric acid     2 mg daily
                     production and needed for calcium
                     absorption
Vitamin [B.sub.12]   Required by bone-building cells     2-3 mcg
                     to maintain optimum function        daily
Folic Acid           Detoxifies homocysteine, a          400 mcg
                     substance that can cause            daily
                     osteoporosis
Vitamin C            Helps form collagen                 250-2,000
                                                         mg daily
Vitamin D            Essential for calcium absorption    200 IU daily
Vitamin K            Required to manufacture the bone    70-140 mcg
                     protein matrix                      daily
Protein              Builds bones and needed to absorb   44 g daily
                     calcium
Essential            Help bone structure and             Dosages vary
Fatty Acids          development (omega-3s and           per individual
                     omega-6s)