Nutrition and the skeleton

This chapter explains how nutrition plays a key role in the maintenance of bone health. Since the skeleton is the principal structural element of the body necessary for all movement, it plays a key role in the metabolism of the minerals calcium and phosphate. Additionally, bone density directly correlates to body weight throughout a person's life. The chapter looks into the structure of bone and the cellular events that provide remodelling and renewal of bone before considering the regulation of calcium metabolism and the vitamin D endocrine system. It then details the nature, pathogenesis, and management of osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and rickets.