Final answer:
Calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and phosphorus are all essential nutrients for optimal bone health, with calcium being the primary mineral in bone and vitamin D being necessary for calcium absorption and bone remodeling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adequate intakes of several nutrients support optimal bone health, including calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and phosphorus. Calcium is the predominant mineral in bone and is essential for bone strength and structure. In the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate, it forms the hydroxyapatite crystals that give bone its hardness.
Vitamin D is crucial for calcium absorption from the small intestine, and without it, dietary calcium cannot be effectively utilized by the body. Moreover, vitamin D is involved in bone remodeling, which is an ongoing process of bone formation and resorption that maintains bone strength and integrity. Magnesium plays a role as a structural component of bone, also contributing to bone strength and health. Phosphorus, another structural component, is essential for making hydroxyapatite crystals.
Other nutrients that play a supporting role in bone health due to their effects on bone mineralization and health include vitamin K and fluoride. The synergistic relationship between vitamin D and vitamin K also aids in regulating bone growth, and both require adequate intake for optimal bone health. Exercise and hormones such as growth hormone and sex hormones also contribute to maintaining and promoting bone health.