Fruits and Vegetables May Improve Bone Health

A recent University of Toronto study on bone health has found that various nutrients found in fruits and vegetables may improve bone health beyond the assumed benefits of calcium and vitamin D, according to Julie Beun of Canada...s Canwest News Service, who broke news of the story last week.

Researchers at the University of Toronto compared the effects of two nutritional supplements, Bone Builder and Greens +, with calcium supplementation alone, and found the supplements to be more effective at stimulating osteoblasts, cells responsible for bone formation.

'Although calcium is positively associated with increased bone mineral density, there is also evidence to show that calcium alone is not sufficient,' said Leticia Rao, PhD, leader of the study. 'Several antioxidants, a number of which are obtained primarily through foods such as fruits and vegetables and nutritional supplements, have been shown in both in vitro and clinical studies that they can counteract oxidative stress and prevent the risk of osteoporosis...other nutritional components [are required] in increasing bone formation.'

Beun reports that these components included three absorbable calcium sources, vitamins D, C, and B; the antioxidant lycopene; magnesium; selenium; zinc; copper; manganese; and the amino acid L-lysine.