Osteomarine

[Nutrition Adviser Product Information]

Rationale

OsteoMarine is specially designed to support bone health by providing the important bone-building minerals calcium and magnesium, together with vitamin D, fish oil and vitamin E to aid absorption of calcium and promote its efficient use in maintaining strong bone structure.

While the bone-nourishing benefits of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D are well known, recent studies now indicate that the long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA and DHA) contained in fish oil can increase bone density and strength by enhancing calcium absorption and positively influencing the activity of the cells responsible for bone remodelling. Recent research on vitamin K indicates that this nutrient also has a positive effect on bone density, particularly when combined with vitamin D.

Vitamin E is added to protect the long chain polyunsaturates from oxidation and to help maintain a healthy oxidative balance in the body.

Building blocks

Calcium and magnesium are essential for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. Approximately 80-90% of bone mineral content is calcium and phosphorous (Ilich and Kerstetter 2000). Low intakes of phosphorous could limit adequate bone mineralisation, however it is rare for diets to be deficient in this element (Eastell and Lambert 2002). By contrast, adequate calcium and magnesium intakes are more difficult to achieve.

Two-thirds of total body magnesium content is located in the skeleton and increased dietary magnesium intakes are associated with higher bone mineral density (Martini 1999). Magnesium is involved in a number of activities supporting the strength and remodelling of bones (Schaafsma et al 2001).

Enhanced benefits

Vitamin D acts on intestinal cells to increase the absorption of dietary calcium. Although the major supply of vitamin D is from synthesis in the skin during exposure to sunlight, the process may be limited during winter months or when skin exposure is limited (Eastell and Lambert 2002). Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognised as a common problem among older adults (Allain and Dhesi 2003) and experts have agreed for a long time that adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, as well as exercise, are fundamental to any programme to promote healthy bones (Fiechtner 2003).

Research shows that combining vitamins D and K with calcium can increase bone density even more than taking vitamin D on its own. Vitamin D, as well as regulating calcium absorption, is involved in the synthesis of osteocalcin, a bone protein with a vital role in maintaining healthy bone structure (Young 2003). Vitamin K is required to convert osteocalcin to its active form. (Zittermann, A 2001). The interaction between the three nutrients can lead to a reduction of bone loss in those who take these supplements together. The most benefit has been noted on those people with the poorest vitamin status (Bolton-Smith C et al 2003)

In other research into the physiology of bone health, laboratory studies found that EPA and DHA in fish oil promote calcium absorption, possibly by enhancing the activity of the ATP-ase enzymes involved in calcium uptake (Haag et al 2003). Healthy bone maintenance is a dynamic process involving the resorption and replacement of 20% of an adult’s bone calcium in a year (Mindell 1995). Bone structure is maintained by the action of specialised cells called osteoclasts, which promote bone resorption, in balance with osteoblasts, which promote bone deposition. It has been shown that the long chain omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil tip this balance away from calcium resorption by inhibiting the production of prostaglandin E2 PGE-2), thereby inhibiting the production of osteoclasts (Watkins et al 2001a, b, c). Preliminary studies also indicate that these bone-sparing benefits are evident despite reduced oestrogen production as would occur in postmenopausal women (Iwami-Morimoto et al 1999, Schlemmer et al 1999, Weiler and Fitzpatrick-Wong 2002, Albertazzi and Coupland 2002, Fernandes et al 2003). These findings might help to explain the observation that diets high in fish may be associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis (Suzuki et al 1997).

Fish oil has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, partly through its action on PGE-2, in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (Cleland et al 2003, Rennie et al 2003) and to help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system (Lopez and Ortega 2003, Lee and Lip 2003).

Vitamin E is a lipid soluble antioxidant that is included in OsteoMarine because it protects polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in cell membranes from oxidation and increased PUFA intake requires increased levels of antioxidant protection (Valk and Hornstra 2000).

References

Albertazzi P and Coupland K (2002). Polyunsaturated fatty acids. Is there a role in postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention? Maturitas 42: 13-22.

Allain TJ and Dhesi J (2003). Hypovitaminosis D in older adults. Gerentology 49: 273-278.

Bolton-Smith C, Shearer MJ, McMurdo M E T, Paterson CR. Evaluation of the Effects of a 2 year intervention with calcium and vitamins D and K on bone health in elderly women. Foods Standards Agency, London 2003.

Cleland LG, James MJ and Proudman SM (2003). The role of fish oils in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs 63: 845-853.

Eastell R and Lambert H (2002). Diet and healthy bones. Calcif Tissue Int 70: 400-404.

Fernandes G, Lawrence R and Sun D (2003). Protective role of n-3 lipids and soy protein in osteoporosis. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 68: 361-372.

Fiechtner JJ (2003). Hip fracture prevention. Drug therapies and lifestyle modifications that can reduce risk. Postgrad Med 114: 22-28.

Haag M, Magada ON, Claassen N, Bohmer LH and Kruger MC (2003). Omega-3 fatty acids modulate ATPases involved in duodenal absorption. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 68: 423-429.

Mindell E (1995). The Vitamin Bible. Arlington Books, London.

Ilich JZ and Kerstetter JE (2000). Nutrition in bone health revisited: a story beyond calcium. J Am Coll Nutr 19: 715-737.

Iwami-Morimoto Y, Yamaguchi K and Tanne K (1999). Influence of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on experimental tooth movements in rats. Angle Orthod 69: 365-371.

Lee KW and Lip GY (2003). The role of omega-3 fatty acids in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. QJM 96: 465-480.

Lopez M and Ortega RM (2003). Omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease. Eur J Clin Nutr 57: Suppl 1: S22-S25.

Martini LA (1999). Magnesium supplementation and bone turnover. Nutr Rev 57: 227-229.

Rennie KL, Hughes J, Lang R and Jebb SA (2003). Nutritional management of rheumatoid arthritis: a review of evidence. J Hum Nutr Diet 16: 97-109.

Schaafsma A, de Vries PJ and Saris WH (2001). Delay of natural bone loss by higher intake of specific minerals and vitamins. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 41: 225-249.

Schlemmer CK, Coetzer H, Claassen N and Kruger MC (1999). Oestrogen and essential fatty acid supplementation corrects bone loss due to ovariectomy in the female Sprague Dawley rat. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 61: 381-390.

Suzuki T, Yoshida H, Hashimoto T, Yoshimura N, Fujiwara S, Fuku M, Nakamura T, Yoh K, Inoue T, Hosoi T and Orimo H (1997). Case-control study of risk factors for hip fracture in the Japanese elderly by a Mediterranean Osteoporosis Study (MEDOS) questionnaire. Bone 21: 461-467.

Valk EE and Hornstra G (2000). Relationship between vitamin E requirement and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake in man: a review. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 70(2): 31-42.

Watkins BA, Li Y, Lippman HE and Seifert MF (2001a). Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and skeletal health. Exp Biol Med 226: 485-497.

Watkins BA, Li Y and Seifert MF (2001b). Nutraceutical fatty acids as biochemical and molecular modulators of skeletal biology. J Am Col Nutr 20: 410S-416S.

Watkins BA, Lippman HE, Le Bouteiller L, Li Y and Seifert MF (2001c). Bioactive fatty acids: role in bone biology and bone cell function. Prog Lipid Res 40: 125-148.

Weiler HA and Fitzpatrick-Wong SC (2002). Modulation of essential (n-6):(n-3) fatty acid ratios alters fatty acid status but not bone mass in piglets. J Nutr 132: 2667-2672.

Young MF, Bone matrix proteins: their function, regulation, and relationship to osteoporosis Osteoporos Int. 2003;14 Suppl 3:S35-42. Epub 2003 Mar 12.

Zittermann A. Effects of vitamin K on calcium and bone metabolism. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2001 Nov;4(6):483-7.