Bone Health Science
Bone health is an issue of growing importance as rates of poor bone health are on the increase. One of the main reasons for this is the ageing population. The next ten years will see more women than ever before going through menopause as the baby boomer generation ages. This is significant because, at menopause, there is a reduction in the levels of oestrogen which helps to preserve bone health throughout adult life. There is also a corresponding dramatic and irreversible loss in bone mass. In addition, women live longer than men, so in the years beyond menopause, when age-related bone loss continues, they are more likely to develop problems related to their bone loss.
Bone is living tissue that is continually being broken down and rebuilt. As people age bone breakdown begins to outweigh bone rebuilding, however, we can alter the rate at which this occurs. Lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol, excessive caffeine consumption and lack of exercise all contribute to the rate of bone breakdown. It is important that adequate intake of essential bone nutrients continues throughout life to help maximise and maintain bone mass and minimise the risk of developing poor bone health in later life.
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