Leyla Weighs In: Beyond Calcium--Unraveling Nutritional Insights for Bone Strength

Bone Health Beyond Calcium: Vitamin D, K, Protein, Medications, and Metabolic Risks: Registered dietitian nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses factors affecting bone health, osteopenia/osteoporosis, and limitations of bone mineral density as a measure of bone strength. She emphasizes optimizing vitamin D via 25-hydroxy D testing (aiming roughly 55–85 and avoiding over 100), ensuring vitamin K for proper calcium placement, and addressing malabsorption from GI conditions, food intolerances, or inflammation. She notes long-term proton pump inhibitor use can impair calcium and magnesium absorption and increase osteoporosis risk. Diet considerations include avoiding overly grain-heavy, acid-forming patterns and ensuring high biological value protein; she al...