Bones are the structures which keep our self together and its consistency would be vital in supporting the everyday functionality that we enjoy. Although it starts as any other soft tissue mass, the bones would actually be formed when they begin ossifying or else following the start of mineral deposition within the soft tissue matrix. This would be a gradual process which start from very early life and will continue till adult age. Even after a person stops growing, the bone minerals would undergo constant degeneration and replacement although with age, there would be a time when the replacement cannot sustain the speed at which the bone losses are taking place and this would detrimentally affect the strength of the bones giving rise to increased susceptibility towards fractures.
Thus, in order to prevent such bone fragility during the elderly age as well as to promote bone growth during the developmental ages, knowing the desired mineral ingredients for its mineralization would be vital. Therefore, let us discuss some of these minerals which are essential in forming the bone structure.
Calcium
Among all minerals contributing to the bone structure, calcium can be named as the most important and would heavily contribute towards the mineral density of the bone. Within the body, almost 99% of calcium is found in the bones and the teeth and its depletion can lead to fragile bones and conditions such as osteoporosis. In order to sustain a positive calcium balance, an adult should maintain a daily calcium intake of at least 1000 – 1200 mg and the requirement may vary at times of pregnancy and breast feeding as passive supply of calcium should be maintained to the growing fetus as well as to the newborn child.
Phosphorus
As with calcium, almost 85% of all phosphorus content would be residing in the bones and in the teeth. The mineral would usually be present linked with calcium and other elements forming the bone matrix. Thus, the balance between calcium and phosphorus would be vital in forming healthy bones which makes the adults to take at least 700 – 900 mg of phosphorus containing foods or supplements daily.
Other minerals
Apart from the above mentioned minerals, which would most often be present as a combination, there are other minerals such as magnesium and fluorine which also perform a vital role in the bone structure. Thus, from this information, it is evident that the body would require adequate amounts of minerals in order to maintain proper bone structure and therefore to prevent any related diseases taking place in the bones.
