Interesting piece for you today from LEF on the importance of manganese for bone. As I am always saying, bone density is far from being just about calcium and it is important to get all the co-factors in place for the calcium to actually be deposited in bone.
Is Manganese the Missing Mineral in Osteoporosis?
A hypothesis submitted by researchers at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain, published in the January, 2012 Frontiers of Bioscience Elite Edition, suggests that a lack of manganese rather than calcium could be the cause of osteoporosis, a disease characterized by progressive thinning of the bones that is common among older individuals, particularly women.
By studying deer antlers, Tomás Landete of the University’s Research Institute of Hunting Resources (IREC) and his associates discovered an association between manganese depleted diets in 2005 and increased breakage. “Previous antler studies show that manganese is necessary for calcium absorption,” commented Dr Landete.
“Our hypothesis is that when the human body absorbs less manganese or when it is sent from the skeleton to other organs that require it, such as the brain, the calcium that is extracted at the same time is then not properly absorbed and is excreted in the urine. It is in this way that osteoporosis can slowly strike.”
“Antlers grow by transferring 20% of the skeleton’s calcium towards their structure,” he added. “We therefore saw that it was not calcium deficiency that caused the weakening but rather the deficiency of manganese. The lack of manganese was almost as if the ‘glue’ that sticks calcium to antlers bones was missing.”
Useful knowledge.
In short, it is always best to take a co-factor bone density supplement rather than just loading yourself with often inabsorbable chalk (calcium carbonate), the basis of mainstream medicine calcium prescriptions sadly. It is so unabsorbable, the prescription doses are very high so you can actually get a bit. Daft.
The type of product that is effective is like this one, which is one of my favourites and I have recommended it for years.
There are many reasons why this is a particularly good one. Not least because the form of calcium is hydroxyapatite (MCHC) which is a calcium complex rather than chalk, it has plenty of the so-important D3, the usually non-existent K2 as MK-7, a good form, enough magnesium (which is rare in bone products but you must always offset high calcium with magnesium if you want it to be metabolised properly), boron and, of course, the manganese.
Now, that’s what I call an effective bone product. You can get it from ND if needed. Make sure you get the right one: there is this version with the MCHC calcium and a vegan version without it.
You can test your osteoporosis risk by the way with a simple urine bone marker test if you wish to – shows a problem much earlier than a density scan and I advise women especially over 45 and with dropping oestrogen to do it every couple of years or so if they can.
If you use the search box on the right, you will find loads more posts on bone density, osteoporosis etc too. Happy reading.
Interestingly, C just sent me a link to a forum Q&A with a founder of the Vitamin D Council and he mentions co-factors etc very similar to those I have said here. I thank you :). Have a read for some useful info on Vitamin D supplementation guidelines etc. http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=48140
What foods is manganese found in?
In my book, says top are pecans, brazils, almonds, then some gluten grains and further down buckwheat and split peas.