Nutritional factors to support bone health in older adults

Summary

During ageing, bone mass decreases and bone gets more porous. If too much bone mass is lost, this leads to the development of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases the risk of falls and fractures, which in turn leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality, loss of independence, and a decreased quality of life. It has been well established that consumption of sufficient calcium and vitamin D are required for proper bone health. However, there are more nutrients and nutritional strategies that may play an important role in maintaining and improving bone health in later life, including increasing the intake of protein, magnesium, and dairy. The potential impact of these nutritional strategies to delay or prevent the development of osteoporosis and, as such, support bone health remains understudied. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of nutritional factors in supporting bone health of older adults.