Two new supplements designed to promote bone health have been launched under the Daily Balance brand. The supplements contain calcium and soy and were formulated by women's health expert Dr Susan Lark.
Daily Balance Bone Health contains calcium to help prevent osteoporosis, and together with Daily Balance Soy Isoflavones, is designed to help promote strength, flexibility and proper bone density. The two supplements are available solely through Doctors' Preferred (DPI), one of the largest North American direct-mail supplement distributors.
Dr Lark said that calcium was often taken with magnesium, but that in many cases it was not in the correct proportions with other nutrients to ensure optimum efficacy. She recommends that women take calcium in a two-to-one ratio with magnesium along with proper doses of vitamin D, L-lysine and boron. These nutrients help rebuild the mineral component, which accounts for 70 per cent of bone, she said, adding that two other key nutrients - chondroitin sulfate and silica - were also vital for bone health.
"Roughly 30 per cent of bone consists of a honeycomb-like matrix of living collagen fibres," said Dr Lark. "This matrix makes bones flexible and resilient. Women need both chondroitin sulfate and silica to support the vital living matrix - a fact that's rarely explained, but which is extremely important." Daily Balance Bone Health includes all the essential vitamins and minerals as well as chondroitin sulfate and silica.
Daily Balance Soy Isoflavones, on the other hand, provide phytoestrogens, which also plays a vital role in building bones. Too much or too little oestrogen, which occurs in menopause and peri-menopause, make it more difficult for women over 40 to maintain proper bone density. Soy can help balance oestrogen levels, and the Daily Balance supplements also contain digestive enzymes and herbs such as papaya, bromelain, amylase and ginger to help with absorption.
"We are especially pleased to have this new bone health kit available for women," said Linda Werner, DPI executive director for women's health. "While some bone loss is a natural part of ageing, a reduction in oestrogen will account for one-third to one-half of the bone loss a woman will experience in her lifetime. Women must be aware of this and take action accordingly."