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Throughout life, cells known as osteoblasts construct bone matrix and fill it with calcium. At the same time, osteoclasts work just as busily to tear down and resorb bone. This fine balance is regulated by many factors, including systemic hormones and cytokines. Bone mass reaches its peak by the middle of the third decade of life and plateaus for about ten years, during which time bone turnover is constant, with bone formation approximately equaling bone resorption.1
As our bodies age, this fine balance is lost. As the relative hormone levels shift in midlife — more drastically in women than in men — the osteoclasts gain the upper hand and bone mass begins to dwindle. Some bone is already being lost by the time women reach menopause, but the rate of loss can increase up to tenfold during the first six years after menopause.
Bone density loss is not just associated with calcium deficiency, but also with an insufficient intake of a host of other nutrients4-8 including magnesium9,10 and vitamin D3.11,12 In order for calcium to help maintain healthy bones, adequate amounts of vitamin D3, zinc,8,13-14 magnesium,15 manganese,7 and other nutrients should be available so that calcium and phosphorus can be incorporated into the bone matrix. Additionally, many forms of calcium are not particularly well absorbed.16-18
While loss of bone mineral density is more commonly experienced by women, aging men can also have this issue.19 Both men and women may suffer significant deficits of magnesium if they do not supplement. Magnesium is not only needed to maintain strong bones, but it is critical to promoting a healthy vascular system.20-21 In fact, magnesium is critical for facilitating hundreds of enzymatic reactions that our bodies require to maintain optimal health.22-23
To overcome the impediments that preclude aging adults from achieving optimal calcium status, Life Extension offers a proprietary comprehensive mineral formula called Bone Restore which has been designed to support healthy bone density and strength. Bone Restore provides 1200 milligrams of elemental calcium from three different forms, along with the critically important nutrients magnesium,15 boron,4,24-26 zinc,8,13-14 silicon,27-29 manganese7 and vitamin D11,12 needed for healthy bones.
In fact, the boron in this formula, called FruiteX B® OsteoBoron®, is a natural boron/carbohydrate complex, similar to what is found in fruits and vegetables and is more bioavailable than boron citrate. Scientific research has established the beneficial effects of boron on the strength of bones and joints.4,30-33
One reason why aging people suffer bone loss even though they are taking calcium supplements is that they may not be absorbing enough elemental calcium. Bone Restore provides calcium in capsule form to ensure that it breaks down fully in the digestive tract. Unlike calcium tablets, these capsules burst open within five minutes of swallowing, making the minerals and vitamin D3 immediately available for absorption.
Bone Restore now contains magnesium citrate, which is one of the most absorbable forms of magnesium. |