BCC Osteoporosis Calcium Vitamin D Bone Development and Disintegration Response

Osteoporosis, Calcium, Vitamin D, and Bone Development and Disintegration.

Bone health is just as important as other systems in the human body, such that calcium, vitamin D, and osteoporosis are considerable health issues that must be maintained if one wants to enjoy mobility and personal health, especially in later years of life. From birth until the age of the early 20s, bones constantly renew, and old bone is broken down in the body (Blake, 2020). Stored calcium and vitamin D acts to renew this process. However, the process slows down considerably as we age. By age 30 most people reach their peak bone mass and as one ages, bone loss is faster than the formation of new bones (Mayo Clinic, 2021). We can see this as people age, they may also become shorter and lose muscle and bone mass. Therefore, it is so important to consider bone health during one’s earliest years. According to the Mayo Clinic, osteoporosis is dependent on how much bone mass you acquire during your youth. If you do not have sufficient bone mass from youth, the chances are very likely that you will get osteoporosis at some point in your life. Other causes of osteoporosis include older age, lifestyle, medical conditions, and medications.

Calcium is the main building block for bone growth, it also “acts as a reservoir for maintaining calcium levels in the blood,” a healthy nervous system, and muscle development (International Osteoporosis Foundation, 2021, para. 1). Without calcium, these systems will have issues maintaining themselves and start to deteriorate over time. For example, people who have low calcium intake, suffer from eating disorders, are underweight, and have had gastrointestinal surgery are more likely to have osteoporosis (Blake, 2020). Calcium is a necessary nutrient for strong bone development and skeletal strength throughout your life, so it is ever so important to make sure it is included in one’s healthy diet.

Calcium and vitamin D work together for healthy bone and teeth development. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from your intestines and guarantees the regeneration and mineralization of bone for development (International Osteoporosis Foundation, 2021). For most healthy people, a calcium rich diet can be achieved through foods rich in calcium such as dairy, green vegetables, canned fish (tuna and sardines), nuts, and tofu. Natural sources for vitamin D can be found in oily fish (salmon, herring, and mackerel), red meat, liver, dairy products, egg yolks, vitamin fortified foods (cereals), and sunlight is also a great source of vitamin D (Jones, 2019). One can achieve high levels of this nutrient just by going outside and enjoying sunlight. Your body needs calcium for bone renewal as it breakdowns old bones and vitamin D for your body to absorb the calcium necessary to perform bone development.