As the population lives longer, bone fractures become more important. Even microfractures in the spine from collapsed vertebrae can cause pain and disability, while hip fractures can be life-threatening to an older person. On the positive side, people have become more tuned into their calcium intake as a result; but the focus on bone fracture is also why there’s a billions-per-year industry selling bisphosphonates to women who don’t yet have osteoporosis. And it’s why so many of my patients are particularly tuned in to how much calcium they need, sometimes more than any other nutrient.

Here is yet another example of how the conventional model of one organ/one measurement/one drug treatment completely misses the interconnectedness of the body system – what I call the metabolic matrix. Bones are made of more than calcium. The calcium in bones is laid in a matrix, a lattice-work of proteins, lipids, and other minerals. Now comes research suggesting that bone strength is not the same as bone mineral density, though they are related. To put it another way, not everyone with low bone density is susceptible to fractures and vice versa. The integrity of the bony matrix is just as important. This is why we always try to give calcium in a matrix form called micronized crystalline hydroxyl cal apatite or MCHC. And it’s why we look at hormones, inflammation, heavy metals and other toxins, and a wide array of non-calcium nutrients when faced with possible osteopenia or osteoporosis.

Bones can actually be thought of as an endocrine (hormone) organ, constantly in communication with other endocrine organs. Estrogen, testosterone, growth hormone, T3 thyroid, and the brain hormone seratonin are all factors influencing bone health. There’s a lot of overlap between the development of osteoporosis and that of auto-immune disease, chronic infections, cardiovascular illness, diabetes, and even gum disease.

So by all means have bone densities monitored and take a good source of calcium – but also pay attention to the lifestyle interventions that will restore balance among all of your organ systems.