Product Information

Bone-Pro  –  Protect your bone health, it’s just as important for men as for women.

Whilst we all have around 206 bones in our bodies, many of us probably hardly ever give the health of these bones much thought. After all, they feel strong and hard and have the appearance of being solid, inert objects. So unless you’re unfortunate enough to damage one of your bones in some way, our bones don’t appear to present us with many health problems at all.

However, what we tend to forget is that bone is in fact living tissue and we need to keep our bones healthy if they are to do their job properly. What’s more, just as with many other parts of our bodies, the passage of time is not kind to our bones. As we age our bone structure changes which results in the loss of bone tissue. Our bones become weaker which means that we’re at much greater risk of breaking one from a sudden bump or fall. This condition is known as osteoporosis and it’s something that we will look at in more detail later.

And whilst you’d be forgiven for thinking that while breaking a bone can be painful and inconvenient especially if means that you end up having surgery to set it in place, it’s not the most devastating of health problems and one that you should recover from without too many untoward consequences. But what you might not realise is that not only are broken bones painful and inconvenient, they can in fact be life threatening especially when you’re older.

For example, every year around 300,000 Americans over the age of 65 suffer a hip fracture usually as a result of osteoporosis. Research has shown that approximately 25 to 30% of women who are unfortunate enough to experience such a problem will die as a result of their injury within one year of the fracture occurring. For men the situation is even worse - the risk of dying from a fractured hip within the same time period is twice as high as it is for women(1).

And even if you manage to survive the broken hip, the chances are heavily stacked against you for making a full recovery. Research carried out by the University of Kansas found that 20% of women who suffered a hip fracture were left permanently disabled. And studies carried out by the University of Washington concluded that more than half of those who suffered from a fractured hip permanently required a cane or walker and that in the majority of cases, patients were no longer able to be completely independent and required home care after they recovered(1).

Taking care of our bones is therefore something that we should all take seriously and whilst it was once thought that age related changes to bones were an unavoidable part of the aging process, research has now shown us that this need not be the case. We all know that taking simple steps such as increasing activity levels and eating well can really help to keep us healthy and this applies to bone health too.

Using appropriate supplements can also play a significant role. Bone Pro, with its powerful bone health formula, has been specifically designed to provide not just calcium but a whole host of other essential nutrients that are critical for bone health. These key nutrients help to ensure that not only are your bones able to process calcium efficiently but also help with the cycle of bone production (see below). In particular, Bone Pro contains menaquinone-7, a unique, long-chain form of Vitamin K2. And if you can keep your bones healthy then you’re well on your way to maintaining a healthy, active life.

The answer to this question may seem obvious - they provide structure and support to our skeletons and essentially give us the foundation for the shape of our bodies. And with tendons, ligaments etc attached to our bones, our bones enable our bodies to move. But our bones provide us with much more than a structural framework around which the rest of our bodies are constructed. Equally important are the other roles that our bones perform such as:

• Protection - our bones protect our vital organs. Just think of the skull that wraps itself around your brain or the rib cage that provides protection for your heart.
• Blood cell production - red bone marrow (a flexible tissue that is found inside the hollow interior of our large bones) is vital for red blood cell production. It is here that a process called haematopoiesis takes place i.e. the formation of the cellular components of blood.
• Endocrine regulation - bone cells release a hormone called osteocalcin which helps to regulate blood sugars and fat deposits.
• Storage - mineral reserves, especially calcium and phosphorous, are stored within our bones. Without our bones therefore we could be short on calcium. Yellow bone marrow also stores fatty acids. This storage function has a protective element to it because bones are also capable of removing heavy metals and other foreign elements from the blood stream and storing them for later excretion.

The construction of our bones is a complex process. Initial bone formation starts in the foetus as early as 3 months gestation and continues right throughout childhood until our skeletons are “completed” during adolescence. But our bones themselves are constantly being renewed through a life-long process known as bone remodelling (sometimes called bone metabolism).

Bone remodelling involves mature bone tissue being broken down and removed from the skeleton via bone resorption and new being added to the skeleton through a process known as ossification. Cells known as osteoclasts are responsible for resorption and cells called osteoblasts then form the new bone tissue. During the first year of life almost 100% of the skeleton is replaced via bone remodelling but this gradually slows down so that by adulthood remodelling takes place at about the rate of 10% per annum. Any imbalance between the processes of bone resorption and bone formation leads to metabolic bone diseases, such as osteoporosis (see below).

As we grow older our bones become less dense and the condition of our bones gradually deteriorates. This is probably due to a combination of factors including leading a sedentary lifestyle and hormonal changes (in women menopause triggers a loss of minerals in bone tissue - this happens later in men as their loss of sex hormones that triggers such changes is more gradual). As bones lose calcium and other minerals they become thinner and more brittle making them far more prone to fracture (see below for more information on osteoporosis).

Whilst the thinning of our bones with age is not something that is visible externally, other changes to our bone structure do manifest themselves in such a way that we can actually see and feel the changes. For example, our joints become less flexible and lose structure (particularly our knee and hip joints) or they begin to calcify (particularly in the shoulder joint) which means that we become increasingly stiff and less flexible. Movement may also become more painful. We also tend to lose height as we age - and again this is due changes in our skeletal structure. This is because as we grow older our vertebrae become thinner and we lose the fluid that exists between them vertebrae. As a result the spine becomes more compressed and curved and we become shorter and more stooped.

Unfortunately these postural and flexibility changes also increase the risk of falls and accidents as they can cause loss of balance and instability.

The word osteoporosis literally means “porous bones” which is a very good description of what happens to the bones in someone affected by the disease. It’s a huge health problem, especially for older people, affecting an estimated 75 million people across Europe, the USA and Japan.

As mentioned above, osteoporosis occurs when there is an imbalance in the bone remodelling process. The net rate of bone resorption exceeds the rate of bone formation which means that bones lose an excessive amount of their protein and mineral content, particularly calcium. Gradually, bone mass and therefore bone strength decreases. If this continues unchecked, the amount of bone available for mechanical support of the skeleton will eventually fall below the ‘fracture threshold’. If this point is reached, bones are so fragile that they may fracture with little or no trauma. Even something as mundane as a sudden movement or a sneeze could result in a fracture.

And as we’ve already seen, fractures in the elderly are more than just a cause of pain and suffering - they can result in death. Even a fairly minor fracture can have tragic consequences.

Although the majority of osteoporosis sufferers are women, it is not a gender specific disease and many older men also suffer from the condition. In fact, although men don't generally experience the rapid bone loss in their 50's that women do, but by age 65 or 70, men are losing bone mass at the same rate as women(2). As alluded to earlier, the reason that women tend to suffer in greater numbers is because bone resorption is directly linked to oestrogen levels - when levels are low, more resorption occurs and of course for women the menopause sees dramatic falls in their oestrogen levels.

Unfortunately, because osteoporosis is often thought to be a female only problem, men are usually not diagnosed with the disease until they experience an osteoporotic fracture. But even in women, osteoporosis is a silent disease without any visible symptoms and again, unless they have undergone bone density testing, they may not be diagnosed until a bone is broken.

It should also be remembered that whilst age is one of the major risk factor when it comes to developing osteoporosis, it can strike at any age. And if you know that you already have osteopenia (a condition where bone mineral density is lower than normal but is not full blown osteoporosis) you should be particularly aware of your bone health. Although not everyone with osteopenia goes on to develop osteoporosis, it is considered by many doctors to be the precursor to osteoporosis and certainly puts you in a very high risk category.

Other risk factors include:

• A family history of osteoporosis and fractures.
• Use of cortico-steroids (often used by asthma sufferers).
• Already having certain other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, over-active thyroid or parathyroid glands, Coeliac disease and other chronic gut conditions and chronic liver or kidney disease.
• Men may also be at an increased risk of osteoporosis if they have symptoms of low testosterone such as loss of libido and impotence.

Diet alone is not always enough when it comes to providing you with all the essential nutrients that you need to support your bone health especially as you get older. Bone Pro has been specifically designed to provide a powerful bone health formula that encourages the natural bone building process, helps protect against bone loss and reduces the risk of fracture.

Bone Pro is more than just a simple calcium supplement. Whilst it does of course feature calcium which is the key mineral in bone metabolism, it also contains all the essential nutrients that you need to maintain healthy bones. Active ingredients include:

• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate) Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat-soluble form of Vitamin C, whereas as ascorbic acid is water soluble.

One of the advantages of taking a supplement that contains both of these forms of Vitamin C is that you require a smaller dosage because ascorbyl palmitate doesn't flush out of your system as quickly as water-soluble Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a protective Vitamin that is essential to overall body health. In particular, it is a powerful antioxidant. It may also reduce the risk of certain cancers as well as coronary artery disease, help in the healing of wounds and help to maintain normal connective tissue. The human body is unable to produce its own Vitamin C and has to get it through diet and supplements.

• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)

Vitamin D3, a fat soluble vitamin, is the active and preferable form of Vitamin D. Its primary function is to stimulate the absorption of calcium and magnesium. It is essential for the utilization of calcium and phosphorus, and for the assimilation of Vitamin A. Vitamin D3 increases serum (blood) calcium concentrations by increasing gastro-intestinal absorption of phosphorus and calcium, increasing osteoclastic resorption, and increasing renal reabsorption of calcium. It is vital to maintain proper levels of Vitamin D3 in order to maintain bone mineral density and serum calcium levels. Vitamin D3 is therefore an essential element in the treatment of osteoporosis.

• Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and Vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7)

Although Vitamin K’s primary function is to aid blood clotting, research has now shown that Vitamin K can also improve bone health. In fact Vitamin K is now recognised as one of the most important nutrients for improving bone mineral density. It plays a crucial role in both bone metabolism and the absorption of calcium. Clinical studies have shown that by building strong bones and providing bone support, Vitamin K can help to prevent or treat osteoporosis and the loss of bone density. It has also been proven to actually reduce fracture rates.

The two main forms of Vitamin K are Vitamin K1 (also known as phylloquinone or phytonadione) and Vitamin K2 (also known as menaquinone). In particular, Bone Pro contains menaquinone-7, the unique long-chain form of Vitamin K2. Although Vitamin K1 and K2 both provide support for healthy bones, Vitamin K2 also acts like a biological glue that actively helps to keep calcium inside the bone matrix.

• Magnesium (magnesium oxide)

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and it is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bone. It’s required for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Experts now believe that a magnesium deficiency may be an additional risk factor for postmenopausal osteoporosis possibly because magnesium deficiency alters calcium metabolism and the hormones that regulate calcium. Studies indicate that magnesium supplementation may improve bone mineral density(3) and diets that provide recommended levels of magnesium appear to be beneficial for bone health.

• Manganese

Trace amounts of this element are found in the human body predominantly stored within the bones, liver, kidney, and pancreas. Amongst other things, it is known to help in the formation of bones and low levels are associated with bone malformation.

• Calcium (tricalcium phosphate - eggshell calcium) and Phosphorous (tricalcium phosphate)

As already mentioned above, calcium is the key mineral when it comes to bone metabolism. In Bone Pro, calcium is brought to you in the form of egg shell calcium (tricalcium phosphate). This form of calcium is a combination of calcium and phosphate compounds both of which are naturally occurring and both of which are essential for proper human bodily function especially bone health. The circulation of calcium and phosphate into the blood allows for healthy bone remodelling. Tricalcium phosphate directly leads to increases in blood calcium levels and decreases the amount of osteoclast resorption by reducing mineral release and collagen breakdown in the bone.

• Boron (calcium borogluconate)

Boron is an essential trace mineral that’s implicated in bone, joint, hormonal and menopausal health. With regard to maintaining healthy bone tissue, the major function of boron is to aid the efficient absorption of calcium in the body and to hinder the excretion of magnesium. Taking boron can help to increase blood serum levels of hormones, important for bone metabolism such as estradiol, a precursor of estrogen. It also helps to prevent the loss of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium through the urine.

• Daidzein (from soy)

Daidzein is an isoflavone that is found mostly in soybeans, legumes, and peas (the source here is soy). Soy isoflavones are known to be potent antioxidants and are antiangiogenic (they interfere with unwanted blood vessel growth in disease states). They have also been shown to have a beneficial effect on some types of cancer and importantly bone health. Research has shown that daidzein has a positive effect on bone metabolism. It has been proven to help stimulate bone formation and mineralization, in the same way that hormones do. With its ability to enhance bone formation, diadzein has been used to help prevent and treat osteoporosis in elderly women.

• Silica (bamboo extract, sodium metasilicate)

Silicon is a trace mineral. In terms of bone health, silica is important for making the collagen matrix structure, where calcium deposits are used for building and strengthening bones. In fact silica is so imperative for forming healthy bones, that some scientists believe silica supplements are perhaps even more important than calcium for maintaining bone strength. As we age, our bodies absorb and use less and less silica making supplementation even more critical the older we get.

• Strontium (strontium citrate) – 100 mcg

Strontium is a common element which is naturally found in your bones. It belongs to the same chemical family as calcium and magnesium. It is similar to calcium in its absorption in the gut, incorporation into bone, and elimination from the body through the kidneys. Many doctors believe that taking healthy amounts of strontium, along with the more popular calcium and magnesium minerals is an effective way of preventing the development of osteoporosis. Strontium is naturally present in trace amounts with around 100 micrograms in every gram of bone, so by supplementing with strontium you are simply making more of this element available for incorporation into your bone.

Bone Pro really is a very effective treatment to ward off the effect of age on the skeleton, containing all of the essential nutrients required to facilitate the bone rebuilding process and to maintain healthy bones.

Dosage

Take one capsule per day, or as directed by your healthcare professional. Not recommended for children under the age of 18.