The strength of your bones is mostly determined by the amount of bone formed (bone mass or bone mineral density), which depends on the amount of bone formed during childhood (peak bone mass) minus the amount of bone mass you lose as you grow older.1
Quality of bone is also important. For instance, cross-linking of collagen fibres inside bone and repair of damage to bone can also influence bone strength.1
Childhood is a critical time to help children achieve their highest possible peak bone mass.2,3 The more bone mass you have when you reach adulthood, the less likely you are to have weak bones that break easily when you are older.2 About 90% of your total bone mass is achieved by age 18, 99% by age 22 and 100% around age 30.3
During adulthood, the rate of bone loss gradually starts to outstrip the rate of bone formation. 3 In women, the rate of bone loss accelerates quickly after the age of 55, when menopause is reached and the protective effect of oestrogen is lost.2,3
It is most common in people over the age of 50 and affects women more than men because they have less total bone mass.3
1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will suffer a fracture due to osteoporosis.4
Bone fractures due to osteoporosis are deadlier than many people realise.3 One in two people who fracture a hip never resume a normal lifestyle and one in four dies within a year. 3 Many people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they fracture a bone.3 And often, bones become so brittle that they break for no reason.4
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, moms transfer a significant amount of calcium to their babies for bone formation.5 The average transfer of calcium to the baby in the first trimester is 2-3 mg per day, which increases to 250 mg per day in the last few weeks before birth.5 Breastfeeding mothers lose an average of 250 mg of calcium per day in breast milk.5 This may place a mother at risk of losing bone mass.5
Vitamin D is necessary for the
absorption and deposition of
calcium in bones and teeth.3
Together with calcium, vitamin D
helps protect older adults from
osteoporosis.3
Vitamin D also stimulates
the formation of osteocalcin.7
Osteocalcin helps take calcium
from the blood circulation and
bind it to the bone matrix.8
Vitamin K is a major player in
bone health.8
While Vitamin D stimulates the
formation of osteocalcin, Vitamin
K is needed for osteocalcin to
become fully activated and
bind calcium to increase bone
strength.7,8
Children have the highest needs
for Vitamin K since bone formation
and development are most intense
during childhood.9
Vitamin K2 also helps considerably
to reduce tooth decay.9
Calcium is the most abundant
mineral in the body and almost
all is stored in bone.3
It is essential for maintaining
adequate bone mass from early
adulthood through old age. 3
Many people consume less calcium than is needed, which can lead to a
decrease bone strength and the
development of osteoporosis.6
The National Osteoporosis
Foundation of South Africa
(NOFSA) recommends daily intake
of calcium to ensure optimal
bone health.1
Various minerals play a role in
bone strength:
Copper helps with the cross-linking
of collagen in bone for improved
bone strength 10
Magnesium is involved in bone
formation and metabolism of
vitamin D 11
Manganese can increase bone
mineral density and bone
formation11
Zinc plays a role in protein and
DNA synthesis and supports
normal growth13
1. Amod A, Ascot-Evans B, Brown S, et al. National Osteoporosis Foundation of South Africa Guidelines 2017. JEMDSA 2017;22(1 Suppl. 1):1-180.
2. Prevention of osteoporosis. International Osteoporosis Foundation. Available from: https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/patients/prevention.
Accessed 3 March 2022.
3. Physical Activity, Nutrition and Bone Health. International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC) Review, Washington, DC.
4. About osteoporosis. International Osteoporosis Foundation. Available from: https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/patients/about-osteoporosis.
Accessed 3 March 2022.
5. Kalkwarf HJ, Specker BL. Bone mineral changes during pregnancy and lactation. Endocrine 2002;17(1}:49–53.
6. Calcium fact sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium-HealthProfessional/.
Accessed 3 March 2022.
7. Popko J, Karpinski M, Chojnowska S, et al. Decreased levels of circulating carboxylated osteocalcin in children with low energy fractures: a pilot study.
Nutrients 2018;10:374; http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu10060734.
8. Maresz K. Proper calcium use: vitamin K2 as a promoter of bone and cardiovascular health. Integrative Medicine 2015;14(1):34-39.
9. Kozioł-Kozakowska A, Maresz K. The Impact of Vitamin K2 (Menaquionones) in Children’s Health and Diseases: A Review of the Literature. Children 2022;9(78).
https://doi.org/10.3390/children9010078.
10. Saito M, Marumo K. Collagen cross-links as a determinant of bone quality: a possible explanation for bone fragility in aging, osteoporosis, and diabetes
mellitus. Osteoporos Int 2010;21:195–214.
11. Magnesium fact sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/.
Accessed 3 March 2022.
12. Manganese fact sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Manganese-HealthProfessional/.
Accessed 3 March 2022.
13. Zinc fact sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/.
Accessed 3 March 2022.
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[S0] RADICAL® TABLETS: Per tablet: K2D3™ Complex (70,0 µg) providing: Vit D3 1000 IU & Vit K2 45 µg; Calcium 600 mg; Magnesium 100 mg; Copper 0,5 mg; Manganese 0,5 mg; Zinc 4,35 mg.
[S0] RADICAL® ADULT CHEWS: Per tablet: K2D3™ Complex (70,0 µg) providing: Vit D3 1000 IU & Vit K2 45 µg; Calcium 600 mg; Magnesium 100 mg; Copper 0,5 mg; Manganese 0,5 mg; Zinc 4,35 mg.
[S0] RADICAL® JUNIOR CHEWS: Per tablet: K2D3™ Complex (36,7 µg) providing: Vit D3 268 IU & Vit K2 30 µg; Calcium 300 mg; Magnesium 67 mg; Copper 0,33 mg; Manganese 0,33 mg; Zinc 2,92 mg. D.34.12
Complementary Medicines: Health Supplements – Multiple substance formulation. This unregistered medicine has not been evaluated by the SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use. Nativa (Pty) Ltd. www.nativa.co.za.
Customer Tel Number: +27 860 628 482. Customer Care e-mail: health@nativa.co.za. YWRAD001/01.
