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Fragility fractures, a marker of weakened bone structure, result in an increased risk of future fractures (14) and are a risk factor for disability, morbidity, and mortality. (4)(31) The risk of fracture increases with age, with an approximate rate of bone loss of 0.5 to 1% yearly, after reaching peak bone mass. (30) These effects are seen particularly after the age of 50 and in postmenopausal women. (28)(31) Further evidence shows that elderly individuals are especially vulnerable to hip fractures, which affect approximately 30% of women and 15% of men by the age of 90. (4)

Fracture rates increase when there is a disparity between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts, leading to decreases in bone mineral density (BMD) and increased bone fragility. (9)(30) Therefore, improvements in bone mineral density and bone turnover may reduce the risk of frailty and fracture. The protocol presented below includes ingredients and supportive evidence focused on improving bone integrity and decreasing fracture risk.

Vitamin D

400-2,000 IU, total per day, minimum 1 year (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(18)

Note: Combination therapy with Calcium may improve efficacy. (2)(6)(10)(22)(28)(29)

• Associated with 70% better probability than placebo for the prevention of non-vertebral fractures, hip fractures, and non-vertebral, non-hip fractures in postmenopausal women (2)
• Systematic review of 19 RCT’s, 9 cohort studies, 19 case-controlled studies, 19 cross-sectional studies, and one meta-analysis found lower range doses (400-700 IU/day) may be more effective for reducing bone loss than higher range doses, though higher range doses (700-800 IU/day) may be more effective in preventing osteoporotic fracture (22) 
• Combination therapy with calcium shown to reduce the incidence of any fracture by 5-19%, non-vertebral fractures by 32%, non-vertebral-non-hip fractures by 36%, and hip fractures by 16-33%, compared with calcium mono-therapy or placebo (2)(6)(10)(22)(29)
• Meta-analysis of 11 RDBPC found high dose supplementation (≥ 800 IU per day) resulted in a 30% reduction in risk of hip fraction and 14% reduction in risk of non-vertebral fracture in people 65 or older  (3)
• Meta-analysis of 12 randomized double-blind controlled trials and 8 randomized controlled trials found high dose vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day or more) decreased fracture risk in community-dwelling individuals by 29% and institutionalized older individuals by 15% (5)

Support strong bones with the evidence-based ingredients in this protocol. 

500-1,200 mg, as calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, or calcium microcrystalline hydroxyapatite, total per day, minimum 1 year (7)(10)(11)(23)(25)(24)(27)(28) 

Note: Combination therapy with Vitamin D may improve efficacy. (2)(6)(10)(22)(28)(29)

• Fracture incidence was lower in supplement group (10.2%) than control (15.4%) (23)
• Reduces bone resorption (serum C-telopeptide) and bone turnover (procollagen type-I N-terminal propeptide)in postmenopausal women (7)
• Combination therapy with vitamin D shown to reduce the incidence of any fracture by 5-19%, non-vertebral fractures by 32%, non-vertebral-non-hip fractures by 36%, or hip fractures by 16-33%, compared with calcium mono-therapy or placebo (2)(6)(10)(22)(28)(29)
• Improved bone density and decreased height, serum alkaline phosphatase and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide in healthy older women when supplemented long term (five years) with calcium citrate (1 g per day) (25)
• High dose (1200 mg/d) was found to be effective in improving bone mineral density via a decrease in serum parathyroid hormone (-25%), total alkaline phosphatase activity (-8%), and procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (-20%) in healthy men over the age of 40 (24)

Vitamin K

Vitamin K2: 45-90 mg per day as menatetrenone (MK-4), or 100-300 µg per day as MK-7 for 6-48 months (15)(17)(26)

• Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found supplementation with vitamin K to be effective in increasing bone mineral density in the lumbar spine (15)
• Meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials found postmenopausal women with osteoporosis supplemented with vitamin K2 had improved and maintained bone mineral density as well as prevented fractures (17)  
• Systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials found improvements in lumbar bone mineral density, and decreases in undercarboxylated osteocalcin and osteocalcin (26)
• Serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin decreased and pentosidine as well as maintained bone mineral density when compared to decreased bone mineral density in control group indicating improved bone quality in postmenopausal women (20)

Potassium

90 mmol (3,500 mg), total per day, for six months (21)

50-60 mEq, total per day, for one year (16)(19) 

• High-dose supplementation of 90 mmol/day decreased intact parathyroid hormone, urine calcium, and net excretion as well as improved net calcium balance (21)
• Areal bone mineral density increased and fraction prediction score decreased in healthy elderly people without osteoporosis (19)
• Reduces urinary N-telopeptide and serum amino terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), indicating bone turnover and calcium excretion improvements when given weight-adjusted low dose (1 mmol/kg, median dose of 81 mmol/day) (12)
• Reduces urinary N-telopeptide of collagen type 1 (u-NTX) and serum amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), indicating improved bone turnover (16)

Magnesium

300-365 mg elemental magnesium total per day as magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, or magnesium carbonate; minimum 1-12 months (1)(8)(13)

• Increases the accumulation of hip bone mineral content in healthy adolescent girls (8)
• Reduces serum ionized Mg+, intact parathyroid hormone, as well as improved indicators of bone formation (C-terminus of type I procollagen peptide and osteocalcin) and resorption (type I collagen telopeptide) in young, healthy males, providing an indication of bone turnover attenuation (13)
• Reduces serum intact parathyroid hormone and urinary deoxypyridinoline, and increases osteocalcin levels in postmenopausal women providing an indication of bone turnover attenuation (1)