Osteoporosis - Supplements

Stand tall against osteoporosis. No matter what your age, it’s never too late to stop bone loss now for better posture and fewer fractures down the road. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

Pump it up
Make weight-bearing exercise a regular habit to increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis
Cut the caffeine
Avoid excessive calcium loss in the urine by switching to healthier beverages
Aim for lifelong calcium and vitamin D nutrition
An extra 800 mg of calcium and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D a day can help protect the bones, from childhood through adulthood
Get your soy
Make tofu, soy milk, soy protein, and other sources of beneficial isoflavones a regular part of your diet
Watch the salt
Avoid excessive salt intake and high-salt processed and restaurant foods that may contribute to calcium and bone loss

Also indexed as:

osteoporosis

About this treatment

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Calcium	800 to 1,500 mg daily depending on age and dietary calcium intake	Calcium supplements help prevent osteoporosis, especially for girls and premenopausal women. It is often recommended to help people already diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Calcium 800 to 1,500 mg daily depending on age and dietary calcium intake Caution: Calcium supplements should be avoided by prostate cancer patients. Although insufficient when used as the only intervention, calcium supplements help prevent osteoporosis.⁴⁰ Though some of the research remains controversial, the protective effect of calcium on bone mass is one of very few health claims permitted on supplement labels by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In some studies, higher calcium intake has not correlated with a reduced risk of osteoporosis—for example, in women shortly after becoming menopausal⁴¹ or in men.⁴² However, after about three years of menopause, calcium supplementation does appear to take on a protective effect for women.⁴³ Even the most positive trials using isolated calcium supplementation show only minor effects on bone mass. Nonetheless, a review of the research shows that calcium supplementation plus hormone replacement therapy is much more effective than hormone replacement therapy without calcium.⁴⁴ Double-blind research has found that increasing calcium intake results in greater bone mass in girls.⁴⁵ An analysis of many trials investigating the effects of calcium supplementation in premenopausal women has also shown a significant positive effect.⁴⁶ Most doctors recommend calcium supplementation as a way to partially reduce the risk of osteoporosis and to help people already diagnosed with the condition. In order to achieve the 1,500 mg per day calcium intake many researchers deem optimal, 800 to 1,000 mg of supplemental calcium are generally added to the 500 to 700 mg readily obtainable from the diet. While phosphorus is essential for bone formation, most people do not require phosphorus supplementation, because the typical western diet provides ample or even excessive amounts of phosphorus. One study, however, has shown that taking calcium can interfere with the absorption of phosphorus, potentially leading to phosphorus deficiency in elderly people, whose diets may contain less phosphorus.⁴⁷. The authors of this study recommend that, for elderly people, at least some of the supplemental calcium be taken in the form of tricalcium phosphate or some other phosphorus-containing preparation. One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period.⁴⁸ In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Strontium	600 to 700 mg daily under medical supervision	Studies indicate that supplementing with strontium may help reduce bone pain, increase bone mineral density, and reduce the risk of some fractures.
Strontium 600 to 700 mg daily under medical supervision Strontium may play a role in bone formation, and also may inhibit bone breakdown.⁴⁹ Preliminary evidence suggests that women with osteoporosis may have reduced absorption of strontistaum.⁵⁰ The first medical use of strontium was described in 1884. (Strontium supplements do not contain the radioactive form of strontium that is a component of nuclear fallout.) Years ago in a preliminary trial, people with osteoporosis were given 1.7 grams of strontium per day for a period of time ranging between three months and three years; afterward, they reported a significant reduction in bone pain, and there was evidence suggesting their bone mass had increased.⁵¹ More recently, in a three-year double-blind study of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, supplementing with strontium, in the form of strontium ranelate, significantly increased bone mineral density in the hip and spine, and significantly reduced the risk of vertebral fractures by 41%, compared with a placebo.⁵² The amount of strontium used in that study was 680 mg per day, which is approximately 300 times the amount found in a typical diet. Increased bone formation and decreased bone pain were also reported in six people with osteoporosis given 600 to 700 mg of strontium per day.⁵³ Although the amounts of strontium used in these studies studies was very high, the optimal intake remains unknown. Some doctors recommend only 1 to 6 mg of supplemental strontium per day—less than many people currently consume from their diets, but an amount that has begun to appear in some mineral formulas geared toward bone health. Strontium preparations, providing 200 to 400 mg per day, were used for decades during the first half of the twentieth century without any apparent toxicity.⁵⁴ No significant side effects were observed in people taking large amounts of strontium; however, animal studies have demonstrated defects in bone mineralization, when strontium was administered in large amounts in combination with a low-calcium diet. People interested in taking large amounts of strontium should be supervised by a doctor, and should make sure to take adequate amounts of calcium. It should be noted that, although supplementing with strontium increases bone mineral density, only part of the increase is real. The rest is a laboratory error that results from the fact that strontium blocks X-rays to a greater extent than does calcium.⁵⁵ People taking large amounts of strontium should mention that fact to the radiologist when they are having their bone mineral density measured, so that the results will be interpreted correctly. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin D	400 to 800 IU daily depending on age, sun exposure, and dietary sources	Vitamin D increases calcium absorption and helps make bones stronger. Vitamin D supplementation has reduced bone loss in women who don’t get enough of the vitamin from food and slowed bone loss in people with osteoporosis. It also works with calcium to prevent some musculoskeletal causes of falls and subsequent fractures.
Vitamin D 400 to 800 IU daily depending on age, sun exposure, and dietary sources Vitamin D increases calcium absorption, and blood levels of vitamin D are directly related to the strength of bones.⁵⁶ Mild deficiency of vitamin D is common in the fit, active elderly population and leads to an acceleration of age-related loss of bone mass and an increased risk of fracture.⁵⁷ In double-blind research, vitamin D supplementation has reduced bone loss in women who consume insufficient vitamin D from food and slowed bone loss in people with osteoporosis.⁵⁸^{, 59} However, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on osteoporosis risk remains surprisingly unclear,⁶⁰^{, 61} with some trials reporting little if any benefit.⁶² Moreover, trials reporting reduced risk of fracture have usually combined vitamin D with calcium supplementation,⁶³ making it difficult to assess how much benefit is caused by supplementation with vitamin D alone.⁶⁴ Impaired balance and increased body sway are important causes of falls in elderly people with osteoporosis.⁶⁵ Vitamin D works with calcium to prevent some musculoskeletal causes of falls.⁶⁶ In a double-blind trial, elderly women who were given 800 IU per day of vitamin D and 1,200 mg per day of calcium had a significantly lower rate of falls and subsequent fractures than did women given the same amount of calcium alone.⁶⁷ Vitamin D in the amount of 800 IU per day effectively prevented falls in a double-blind study of elderly nursing home residents, but lower amounts were ineffective.⁶⁸ Despite inconsistency in the research, many doctors recommend 400 to 800 IU per day of supplemental vitamin D, depending upon dietary intake and exposure to sunlight. One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period.⁶⁹ In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Copper	2 to 3 mg daily	Copper is needed for normal bone synthesis, and one trial reported that copper reduced bone loss.
Copper 2 to 3 mg daily Copper is needed for normal bone synthesis. Recently, a two-year, controlled trial reported that 3 mg of copper per day reduced bone loss.⁷⁰ When taken over a shorter period of time (six weeks), the same level of copper supplementation had no effect on biochemical markers of bone loss.⁷¹ Some doctors recommend 2 to 3 mg of copper per day, particularly if zinc is also being taken, in order to prevent a deficiency. Supplemental zinc significantly depletes copper stores, so people taking zinc supplements for more than a few weeks generally need to supplement with copper also. Calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper are sometimes found at appropriate levels in high-potency multivitamin-mineral supplements. One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period.⁷² In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
DHEA	Take under medical supervision: 50 mg per day	DHEA may be helpful in preventing osteoporosis. In one trial, bone mineral density increased among healthy elderly women and men who were given DHEA.
DHEA Take under medical supervision: 50 mg per day In a preliminary trial, bone mineral density increased among healthy elderly women and men who were given 50 mg per day of DHEA as a supplement.⁷³ Similar results were found in two one-year double-blind trials that used 50 mg of DHEA per day.⁷⁴ ^{, 75} ^{, 76} It is not known if supplementation would have the same effect in people with established osteoporosis. DHEA is a steroid hormone, and should be used only under the supervision of a doctor. DHEA is a steroid hormone, and should be used only under the supervision of a doctor. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Fish Oil and Evening Primrose Oil	6 grams daily	Fish oil combined with evening primrose oil (EPO) may improve calcium absorption and promote bone formation.
Fish Oil and Evening Primrose Oil 6 grams daily A preliminary trial found that elderly women with osteoporosis who were given 4 grams of fish oil per day for four months had improved calcium absorption and evidence of new bone formation.⁷⁷ Fish oil combined with evening primrose oil (EPO) may confer added benefits. In a controlled trial, women received 6 grams of a combination of EPO and fish oil, or a matching placebo, plus 600 mg of calcium per day for three years.⁷⁸ The EPO/fish oil group experienced no spinal bone loss in the first 18 months and a significant 3.1% increase in spinal bone mineral density during the last 18 months.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Folic Acid (High Homocysteine)	5 mg with 1,500 mcg of vitamin B12 daily	Homocystinuria, a condition associated with high homocysteine levels, frequently causes osteoporosis. By lowering homocysteine levels, folic acid may help prevent osteoporosis.
Folic Acid 5 mg with 1,500 mcg of vitamin B12 daily Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are known to reduce blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine, and homocystinuria, a condition associated with high homocysteine levels, frequently causes osteoporosis. Therefore, some researchers have suggested that these vitamins might help prevent osteoporosis by lowering homocysteine levels.⁷⁹ In a double-blind study of people who had suffered a stroke and had high homocysteine levels, daily supplementation with 5 mg of folic acid and 1,500 mcg of vitamin B12 for two years reduced the incidence of fractures by 78%, compared with a placebo.⁸⁰ The reduction in fracture risk appeared to be due to an improvement in bone quality, rather than to a change in bone mineral density. However, supplementation with these vitamins did not reduce fracture risk in people who had only mildly elevated homocysteine levels and relatively high pretreatment folic acid levels.⁸¹ For the purpose of lowering homocysteine, amounts of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 found in high-potency B-complex supplements and multivitamins should be adequate. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Ipriflavone	600 mg daily along with 1,000 mg calcium daily	Ipriflavone promotes the incorporation of calcium into bone and inhibits bone breakdown, thus preventing and reversing osteoporosis.
Ipriflavone 600 mg daily along with 1,000 mg calcium daily Ipriflavone is a synthetic flavonoid derived from the soy isoflavone called daidzein. It promotes the incorporation of calcium into bone and inhibits bone breakdown, thus preventing and reversing osteoporosis. Many clinical trials, including numerous double-blind trials, have consistently shown that long-term treatment with 600 mg of ipriflavone per day, along with 1,000 mg supplemental calcium, is both safe and effective in halting bone loss in postmenopausal women or in women who have had their ovaries removed. Ipriflavone has also been found to improve bone density in established cases of osteoporosis in some,⁸²^{, 83}^{, 84}^{, 85}^{, 86}^{, 87}^{, 88}^{, 89}^{, 90}^{, 91}^{, 92} but not all,⁹³ clinical trials. However, one double-blind study has failed to confirm the beneficial effect of ipriflavone. In that study, ipriflavone was no more effective than a placebo for preventing bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.⁹⁴ The women in this negative study were older (average age, 63.3 years) than those in most other ipriflavone studies and had relatively severe osteoporosis. It is possible that ipriflavone works only in younger women or in those with less severe osteoporosis. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Magnesium	Adults: 250 mg up to 750 mg daily; for girls: 150 mg daily	Supplementing with magnesium has been shown to stop bone loss or increased bone mass in people with osteoporosis.
Magnesium Adults: 250 mg up to 750 mg daily; for girls: 150 mg daily In a preliminary study, people with osteoporosis were reported to be at high risk for magnesium malabsorption.⁹⁵ Both bone⁹⁶ and blood⁹⁷ levels of magnesium have been reported to be low in people with osteoporosis. Supplemental magnesium has reduced markers of bone loss in men.⁹⁸ Supplementing with 250 mg up to 750 mg per day of magnesium arrested bone loss or increased bone mass in 87% of people with osteoporosis in a two-year, preliminary trial.⁹⁹ Supplementing with magnesium (150 mg per day for one year) also increased bone mass in pre-adolescent and adolescent girls in a double-blind study.¹⁰⁰ Some doctors recommend that people with osteoporosis supplement with 350 mg of magnesium per day. One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period.¹⁰¹ In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Progesterone	Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner	Preliminary evidence suggests that progesterone might reduce osteoporosis risk by promoting bone density.
Progesterone Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner Preliminary evidence suggests that progesterone might reduce the risk of osteoporosis.¹⁰² A preliminary trial using topically applied natural progesterone cream in combination with dietary changes, exercise, vitamin and calcium supplementation, and estrogen therapy reported large gains in bone density over a three-year period in a small group of postmenopausal women, but no comparison was made to examine the effect of using the same protocol without progesterone.¹⁰³ Other trials have reported that adding natural progesterone to estrogen therapy did not improve the bone-sparing effects of estrogen and that progesterone applied topically every day for a year did not reduce bone loss.¹⁰⁴ ¹⁰⁵ In a more recent double-blind study, however, progesterone had a modest bone-sparing effect in post-menopausal women.¹⁰⁶ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Red Clover	Take an extract supplying 26 mg of biochanin A, 16 mg of formononetin, 1 mg of genistein, and 0.5 mg of daidzein per day	In one study, supplementing with isoflavones from red clover reduced the amount of bone loss from the spine by 45%, compared with a placebo.
Red Clover Take an extract supplying 26 mg of biochanin A, 16 mg of formononetin, 1 mg of genistein, and 0.5 mg of daidzein per day In a double-blind study, supplementation with isoflavones from red clover for one year reduced the amount of bone loss from the spine by 45%, compared with a placebo.¹⁰⁷ The supplement used provided daily 26 mg of biochanin A, 16 mg of formononetin, 1 mg of genistein, and 0.5 mg of daidzein. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin B12 (High Homocysteine)	1,500 mcg with 5 mg of folic acid daily	Homocystinuria, a condition associated with high homocysteine levels, frequently causes osteoporosis. By lowering homocysteine levels, vitamin B12 may help prevent osteoporosis.
Vitamin B12 1,500 mcg with 5 mg of folic acid daily Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are known to reduce blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine, and homocystinuria, a condition associated with high homocysteine levels, frequently causes osteoporosis. Therefore, some researchers have suggested that these vitamins might help prevent osteoporosis by lowering homocysteine levels.¹⁰⁸ In a double-blind study of people who had suffered a stroke and had high homocysteine levels, daily supplementation with 5 mg of folic acid and 1,500 mcg of vitamin B12 for two years reduced the incidence of fractures by 78%, compared with a placebo.¹⁰⁹ The reduction in fracture risk appeared to be due to an improvement in bone quality, rather than to a change in bone mineral density. However, supplementation with these vitamins did not reduce fracture risk in people who had only mildly elevated homocysteine levels and relatively high pretreatment folic acid levels.¹¹⁰ For the purpose of lowering homocysteine, amounts of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 found in high-potency B-complex supplements and multivitamins should be adequate. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin K	1,000 mcg daily	Vitamin K is needed for bone formation, and supplementing with it may be a way to maintain bone mass.
Vitamin K 1,000 mcg daily Vitamin K is needed for bone formation. People with osteoporosis have been reported to have low blood levels¹¹¹^{, 112} and low dietary intake of vitamin K.¹¹³^{, 114} One study found that postmenopausal (though not premenopausal) women may reduce urinary loss of calcium by taking 1 mg of vitamin K per day.¹¹⁵ People with osteoporosis given large amounts of vitamin K2 (45 mg per day) have shown an increase in bone density after six months¹¹⁶ and decreased bone loss after one¹¹⁷ or two¹¹⁸ years. Other preliminary studies have reported that vitamin K supplementation increases bone formation in some women¹¹⁹ and that higher vitamin K intake correlates with greater bone mineral density.¹²⁰ However, a double-blind study found that supplementing with 500 mcg of vitamin K1 per day for three years had no effect on bone mineral density, when compared with a placebo.¹²¹ Some doctors recommend 1 mg vitamin K1 to postmenopausal women as a way to help maintain bone mass, though optimal intake remains unknown. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Black Cohosh	Refer to label instructions	Black cohosh has been shown to improve bone mineral density in animals fed a low-calcium diet.
Black Cohosh Black cohosh has been shown to improve bone mineral density in animals fed a low calcium diet,¹²² but it has not been studied for this purpose in humans. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Boron	Refer to label instructions	Supplementing with boron has been reported to reduce urinary loss of calcium and magnesium. However, those already supplementing with magnesium appear to achieve no additional calcium-sparing benefit when boron is added. Therefore, people with osteoporosis should supplement with magnesium or boron, not both.
Boron Boron supplementation has been reported to reduce urinary loss of calcium and magnesium in some,¹²³ but not all,¹²⁴ preliminary research. However, those who are already supplementing with magnesium appear to achieve no additional calcium-sparing benefit when boron is added.¹²⁵ Finally, in the original report claiming that boron reduced loss of calcium,¹²⁶ the effect was achieved by significantly increasing estrogen and testosterone levels, hormones that have been linked to cancer risks. Therefore, it makes sense for people with osteoporosis to supplement with magnesium instead of, rather than in addition to, boron. One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period.¹²⁷ In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Calcium and Vitamin D (Amenorrhea)	Refer to label instructions	Despite the lack of evidence that calcium and vitamin D supplements alone are helpful to amenorrheic women, they are still generally recommended to prevent the added burden of calcium and vitamin D deficiency from further contributing to bone loss.
Calcium and Vitamin D A preliminary trial showed that bone loss occurred over a one-year period in amenorrheic exercising women despite daily supplementation with 1,200 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D.¹²⁸ In a controlled study of amenorrheic nursing women, who ordinarily experience brief bone loss that reverses when menstruation returns, bone loss was not prevented by a multivitamin supplement providing 400 IU of vitamin D along with 500 mg twice daily of calcium or placebo.¹²⁹ Despite the lack of evidence that calcium and vitamin D supplements alone are helpful to amenorrheic women, they are still generally recommended to prevent the added burden of calcium and vitamin D deficiency from further contributing to bone loss.¹³⁰ Amounts typically recommended are 1,200 to 1,500 mg calcium and 400 to 800 IU vitamin D daily.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Fish Oil	Refer to label instructions	Supplementing with fish oil may improve calcium absorption and promote bone formation.
Fish Oil A preliminary trial found that elderly women with osteoporosis who were given 4 grams of fish oil per day for four months had improved calcium absorption and evidence of new bone formation.¹³¹ Fish oil combined with evening primrose oil (EPO) may confer added benefits. In a controlled trial, women received 6 grams of a combination of EPO and fish oil, or a matching placebo, plus 600 mg of calcium per day for three years.¹³² The EPO/fish oil group experienced no spinal bone loss in the first 18 months and a significant 3.1% increase in spinal bone mineral density during the last 18 months. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Horsetail	Refer to label instructions	Horsetail is a rich source of silicon, and preliminary research suggests that this trace mineral may help maintain bone mass.
Horsetail Horsetail is a rich source of silicon, and preliminary research suggests that this trace mineral may help maintain bone mass. Effects of horsetail supplementation on bone mass have not been studied. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Manganese	Refer to label instructions	A combination of minerals including manganese was reported to halt bone loss in one study. Some doctors recommend manganese to people concerned with bone mass maintenance.
Manganese Interest in the effect of manganese and bone health began when famed basketball player Bill Walton’s repeated fractures were halted with manganese supplementation.¹³³ A subsequent, unpublished study reported manganese deficiency in a small group of osteoporotic women.¹³⁴ Since then, a combination of minerals including manganese was reported to halt bone loss.¹³⁵ However, no human trial has investigated the effect of manganese supplementation alone on bone mass. Nonetheless, some doctors recommend 10 to 20 mg of manganese per day to people concerned with maintenance of bone mass. One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period.¹³⁶ In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Silicon	Refer to label instructions	Silicon is required in trace amounts for normal bone formation, and supplementation with silicon has increased bone mineral density in a small group of people with osteoporosis.
Silicon Silicon is required in trace amounts for normal bone formation,¹³⁷ and supplementation with silicon has increased bone formation in animals.¹³⁸ In preliminary human research, supplementation with silicon increased bone mineral density in a small group of people with osteoporosis.¹³⁹ Optimal supplemental levels remain unknown, though some multivitamin-mineral supplements now contain small amounts of this trace mineral. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin B6 (High Homocysteine)	Refer to label instructions	Homocystinuria, a condition associated with high homocysteine levels, frequently causes osteoporosis. By lowering homocysteine levels, vitamin B6 may help prevent osteoporosis.
Vitamin B6 Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are known to reduce blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine, and homocystinuria, a condition associated with high homocysteine levels, frequently causes osteoporosis. Therefore, some researchers have suggested that these vitamins might help prevent osteoporosis by lowering homocysteine levels.¹⁴⁰ In a double-blind study of people who had suffered a stroke and had high homocysteine levels, daily supplementation with 5 mg of folic acid and 1,500 mcg of vitamin B12 for two years reduced the incidence of fractures by 78%, compared with a placebo.¹⁴¹ The reduction in fracture risk appeared to be due to an improvement in bone quality, rather than to a change in bone mineral density. However, supplementation with these vitamins did not reduce fracture risk in people who had only mildly elevated homocysteine levels and relatively high pretreatment folic acid levels.¹⁴² For the purpose of lowering homocysteine, amounts of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 found in high-potency B-complex supplements and multivitamins should be adequate. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin B-Complex	Refer to label instructions	In one trial postmenopausal women who combined hormone replacement therapy with B vitamins and other nutrients and dietary changes increased their bone density by a remarkable 11%.
Vitamin B-Complex One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period.¹⁴³ In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Whey Protein	Refer to label instructions	Some whey proteins may reduce bone loss. Milk basic protein (MBP) is a mixture of some of the proteins found in whey protein and has been shown to promote bone density
Whey Protein Some whey proteins may reduce bone loss.¹⁴⁴ Milk basic protein (MBP) is a mixture of some of the proteins found in whey protein. A preliminary trial found that 300 mg per day of MBP improved blood measures of bone metabolism in men, suggesting more bone formation was occurring than bone loss.¹⁴⁵ A double-blind trial found that women taking 40 mg per day of MBP for six months had greater gains in bone density compared with those taking a placebo.¹⁴⁶ No osteoporosis-related research has been done using complete whey protein mixtures. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Zinc	Refer to label instructions	Supplementing with zinc appears to be helpful in both preventing and treating osteoporosis.
Zinc One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period.¹⁴⁷ In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone. Levels of zinc in both blood and bone have been reported to be low in people with osteoporosis,¹⁴⁸ and urinary loss of zinc has been reported to be high.¹⁴⁹ In one trial, men consuming only 10 mg of zinc per day from food had almost twice the risk of osteoporotic fractures compared with those eating significantly higher levels of zinc in their diets.¹⁵⁰ Whether zinc supplementation protects against bone loss has not yet been proven, though in one trial, supplementation with several minerals including zinc and calcium was more effective than calcium by itself.¹⁵¹ Many doctors recommend that people with osteoporosis, as well as those trying to protect themselves from this disease, supplement with 10 to 30 mg of zinc per day. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

References

Last Review: 05-11-2011

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The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

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Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Add More to Follow," select additional topics and conditions.

How do I delete topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?

Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Follows," scroll over the topic or condition you want to delete. An "X" should appear on the righthand side. Click on the "X" and the topic or condition will be deleted from the list.