Keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis with carotenoids

Added 27.01.2009

If you want to maintain strong, healthy bones, a new study suggests carotenoids are the way to go.

What are carotenoids

Carotenoids consists of more than 500 yellow, orange or red fat-soluble pigments that are found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids have powerful antioxidant properties and about 50 of them are precursors of vitamin A. Beta-carotene is the most abundant carotenoid and contains the most provitamin A activity.

Carotenoids protect against bone mineral density loss

Research shows that specific carotenoids have the ability to prevent bone mineral density loss. These include: beta-carotene, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin. The study discovered that in particular lycopene - a red carotenoid present in fruits such as tomatoes and watermelon - offered considerable protection against bone loss in the lumbar spine of women and in the hips of men.

How do carotenoids accomplish this?

Researchers believe that oxidative stress contributes significantly towards bone density loss. Carotenoids, being the potent antioxidants that they are, reduce levels of oxidative stress in our body, which in turn preserves our bone mineral density.

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Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:

This study once again proves that it is NOT enough to take extra calcium if you want to strengthen your bones. You also need to supply your body with sufficient amounts of ALL the molecules that are necessary to rebuild your bone strength. These vital molecules are: vitamins D3, C, K, B6, B12, folic acid, carotenoids like beta-carotene, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, chromium, manganese, magnesium, zinc and copper. In addition to these vital ingredients, you can further strengthen your bones by adding supplements with green tea extract, grape seed extract, red clover extract and fish oil.

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