Nutritional Causes of Osteoporosis

Vitamin D deficiency leads to inadequate calcium in bones and is one of the main causes of osteoporosis; symptoms include bones that become porous, weak and brittle, leading to bone fractures (eg. fractured hip).

Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Vitamin D :
	rickets which causes soft bones, skeletal deformities or retarded growth in children
	osteomalacia resulting in muscular weakness and soft bones
	muscle or bone pain (including low back pain)
	frequent bone fractures
	higher risk of periodontal disease in adults over 50 years old
	rheumatoid arthritis
	increased risk of diabetes due to insufficient insulin produced
	increased risk of high blood pressure
	leads to hypocalcemia (low blood calcium level) characterized by muscle cramps, twitching nerves or muscles, numbness and tingling of fingers and toes, irregular heart contractions, and irritability

How to prevent osteoporosis arising from this deficiency :

Insufficient vitamin D is one of the most common causes of osteoporosis and osteoporosis symptoms.  The best source of vitamin D is sunlight (just 15 minutes a day is enough).  Sources in the diet include · fish liver oils · mackerel · salmon, especially sockeye salmon · sardine · shrimp.

Deficiency of vitamin K is one of the possible causes of osteoporosis, as it contributes to lower bone mineral density that can eventually lead to osteoporosis.

Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Vitamin K :
	bruise or bleed easily, such as from a wound, the nose or stomach or intestine, causing blood to be vomited or appear in the stool or urine
	blood takes longer to clot than normal
	bones fracture easily

High vitamin K foods to include in an anti-osteoporosis diet · soybeans · vegetables, especially dark green leafy vegetables, like asparagus, beet greens, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, green cabbage, cauliflower, chard, collard greens, garden cress, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens, watercress.

Calcium deficiency is one of the most well-known causes of osteoporosis characterized by brittle, porous bones and frequent bone fractures (eg. pelvic fracture), as deficiency in blood calcium may result in skeletal calcium being pulled out to meet the body’s calcium needs.

Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Calcium :
	impaired bone mineralization which, in children, can cause rickets (bone softening) which may lead to bone deformities, fractures, or stunted growth
	osteomalacia (bone softening) in adults
	loss of bone mineralization in the jaw
	tooth decay or periodontal disease
	higher levels of lead in bones and teeth
	brittle or misshapened nails
	rheumatoid arthritis that leads to joint swelling and pain
	heart palpitations or abnormal heart rhythms
	risk of hypertension (high blood pressure)
	higher cholesterol levels
	insomnia
	lethargy or chronic fatigue
	poor appetite
	severe deficiency can cause spasmodic contractions of skeletal muscles, symptomized by tingling fingers, toes or lips, numbness in arms or legs, and muscle pain or severe muscular cramps or spasms

How to prevent osteoporosis arising from this deficiency :

Taking high calcium foods as part of an anti-osteoporosis diet may help alleviate osteoporosis symptoms. Rich sources include · fresh dark green vegetables like collard greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, spinach, turnip greens, wing beans · dairy foods such as buttermilk, mozzarella cheese, raw (non-pasteurized) milk, whey, yoghurt · goat’s milk · soft bones of wild salmon, sardines, tuna, and anchovies are good sources of calcium that is easily absorbed by the body.

Deficiency of copper is one of the causes of osteoporosis; among the earliest symptoms are osteoporosis, osteopenia (lower bone mineral density than normal, but not as low as for osteoporosis) and joint pain or swelling (eg. finger joint pain, shoulder joint pain, collar bone pain, pelvic bone pain, etc).

Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Copper :
	retarded growth or abnormalities in bone development in infants and young children
	anemia that is characterized by lack of improvement with iron therapy alone
	loss of skin or hair color
	impaired immune function that may lead to frequent infections
	impaired nerve function that may lead to taste insensitivity and lack of physical coordination
	inelastic blood vessels that rupture easily
	elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels
	irregular heart beat
	breathing difficulties
	skin sores
	hypothyroidism
	Menkes disease that occurs mostly in male infants, characterized by sparse greyish or colorless twisted hair, and floppy muscle tone

How to prevent osteoporosis arising from this deficiency :

High copper foods to include in an anti-osteoporosis diet that may help prevent osteoporosis symptoms include · cashew nuts · dried beans like soybeans, adzuki beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), lentils, lima, navy beans · dried spirulina · crimini mushrooms · shiitake mushrooms · sesame seeds.

Fluoride deficiency is one of the possible causes of osteoporosis (symptoms include fractured hip or bones in older people).

Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Fluoride :
	badly formed or weak teeth or increase in tooth cavities
	brittle or weak bones

Rich sources of fluoride are · fluoridated water · seafood.

Lack of magnesium is one of the causes of osteoporosis; magnesium deficiency is known to inhibit vitamin D metabolism and cause calcium depletion, leading to low levels of calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia), and softening and weakening of bones, and is a risk factor for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Magnesium :
	overactivation of nerve and muscle impulses, leading to tremors or hyperexcitability or irritability and nervousness
	muscle weakness, twitching or spasm, cramp, fatigue
	mental confusion, disorientation, or apathy
	low blood levels of potassium
	increased risk of stroke
	elevated blood pressure
	insulin resistance linked to blood sugar imbalances and type 2 diabetes
	loss of appetite, headaches, nausea, vomiting
	studies show migraine sufferers tend to have lower magnesium levels
	depression
	disturbed sleep or insomnia or sleepiness
	poor memory and reduced learning ability
	increased heartbeat or abnormal heart rhythms
	severe deficiency can lead to muscle contractions, tingling or numbness
	severe deficiency can cause seizures, delirium and hallucinations
	some studies showed that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to have magnesium deficiency; magnesium given in addition to ADHD medication appeared to decrease hyperactivity

High magnesium foods to include in an anti-osteoporosis diet that may help prevent osteoporosis symptoms · rice bran, wheat bran · peas and beans (legumes) such as black beans, black-eyed peas, green beans, green peas, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans, french beans · whole grains (such as brown rice, buckwheat, millet, oats, quinoa, wheat) · whole grain products (like whole-grain cereals, buckwheat flour, rye flour) · nuts (like almonds, cashews, peanuts) · seeds such as pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, mustard seeds · most dietary magnesium comes from vegetables, especially dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, swiss chard, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, broccoli, collard greens.

Manganese deficiency is another of the possible causes of osteoporosis and excessive bone loss, leading to susceptibility to bone fractures (eg. pelvic fracture), weak hair and nails.

Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Manganese :
	nausea or dizziness
	vomiting
	skin rash
	hearing loss
	iron-deficiency anemia, due to manganese’s role in iron utilization
	high blood sugar levels (impaired glucose tolerance)
	blood cholesterol levels that are too low
	impaired bone growth or skeletal abnormalities, especially in children
	loss of hair colour
	defective functioning of the reproductive system
	severe deficiency in infants can cause convulsions, and even paralysis, blindness and deafness

Manganese rich foods that may help in osteoporosis treatments or prevent osteoporosis symptoms · dark green leafy vegetables (broccoli, chard, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach) · avocados · pineapple · raspberries · nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts).