We don’t often give a lot of thought to our bones – until we happen to break one. Although we might think of our bones as inert structures – as scaffolding that holds us up, as protection for our bodily organs, and the structure that allows us to move about – bones are actually crucial to multiple functions in the body.

Our bones are living, dynamic, and constantly changing tissues. Not long ago, it was discovered that bones are actually endocrine organs.1 Our bones make a protein called osteocalcin, which is secreted by bone cells called osteoblasts. We’ve known about this protein for decades, but what wasn’t known until more recently is that it exerts effects on other parts of the body, like the pancreas. That makes it a hormone.

Osteocalcin as a hormone

Even though osteocalcin is secreted by the bones, it behaves like any other hormone by having far-reaching effects throughout the body.

For example, although bone formation is one of its primary functions, osteocalcin also:

  • Stimulates the beta-cells in the pancreas to secrete more insulin
  • Enhances insulin sensitivity in the adipocytes (fat cells)
  • Stimulates adipocytes to release adiponectin, which further enhances insulin sensitivity and exerts a powerful anti-inflammatory effect (inflammation in fat cells is associated with obesity)
  • Enhances testosterone production in men
  • Improves cognitive function; declines of bone osteocalcin seen in aging have been implicated in cognitive decline, also associated with aging.2

The importance of keeping bones healthy

Unfortunately, for many individuals, a diagnosis of osteoporosis comes only after a bone fracture has occurred. Here’s a look at the stark statistics compiled by the National Osteoporosis Foundation:2

  • 10 million Americans have osteoporosis – although many are not aware of it.
  • Another 44 million Americans have osteopenia (low bone density), which is the precursor to osteoporosis.
  • Half of adults age 50 and older are at risk for breaking a bone because of low bone density.
  • Osteoporosis is responsible for more than two million bone fractures every year.
  • One in four adults will break a bone because of osteoporosis.
  • A woman’s lifetime risk of a bone fracture as a result of osteoporosis is equal to her combined risk for having breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer.
  • Men older than 50 have a greater risk for an osteoporotic fracture than for getting prostate cancer.
  • 24 percent of hip fracture patients who are older than 50 will die within a year of having the hip fracture.

Banking bone should start early in life

While it’s never too late to start protecting your bones, “banking” bone early in life is really the key. The more bone that is banked during those years when more bone is made than bone is being broken down – during childhood and adolescence – the more bone a person will have to spare later on when more bone is broken down than is created.

A person’s peak bone mass is typically reached in the early-to-mid 30s.

But here’s the issue: Low bone density is being increasingly recognized as now existing in children and adolescents – the very time when bone should be banked for later use. Situations or conditions that can contribute to low bone mass in children and adolescents include malabsorption syndromes, gluten enteropathies, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, eating disorders, a sedentary lifestyle, and childhood obesity (which contributes to a vitamin D deficiency). Female athletes can also present with a condition – known as the female athlete triad – that includes decreased bone mass, menstrual irregularities, and disordered eating.

Supporting bone health is key

You might be aware of some of the most important ones – like vitamin D and calcium.* And maybe you even know about adding magnesium and vitamin K. Vitamin D helps support calcium absorption, while vitamin K and magnesium help send calcium to the bones where it belongs and out of the arteries, kidneys, and other soft tissues where it doesn’t belong.* 

Although this mineral is not as well known for bone health as calcium, or even magnesium, boron plays an important role in bone health.* According to research, boron increases osteocalcin levels.*4

And did you know certain B vitamins are important for bone support too – vitamins B6 and B12 and folate, in particular?* That’s because they support healthy methylation, which in turn supports healthy homocysteine levels.* Yes, elevated homocysteine is a risk factor for osteoporosis.5 That’s why we include these important B vitamins in our comprehensive bone support formula – Advanced Bone Support. It contains boron, too! What doesn’t it contain? Vitamin K. That’s because many individuals who need bone support are also on blood-thinning medications and have been advised by their doctors to avoid vitamin K supplements. So, you will need to take your vitamin K separately.

References

  1. Guntur AR, Rosen CJ. Bone as an endocrine organ. Endocr Pract 2012;18(2):758-762.
  2. Nakamura M, Imaoka M, Takeda M. Interaction of bone and brain: osteocalcin and cognition. Int J Neurosci. 2021;131(11):1115-1123.
  3. Osteoporosis Fast Facts. https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/wp-content/uploads/Osteoporosis-Fast-Facts-2.pdf [Accessed August 18,2023]
  4. Boyacioglu O, Orenay-Boyacioglu S, Yildirim H, Korkmaz M. Boron intake, osteocalcin polymorphism and serum level in postmenopausal osteoporosis. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2018;48:52-56. 
  5. Herrmann M, Widmann T, Herrmann W. Homocysteine – a newly recognised risk factor for osteoporosis. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2005;43(10):1111-1117.