Proper mineral intake is essential for optimal bone health. In the hype that has surrounded calcium supplementation and fortification, one of the basic principles of nutrition, balance, has been neglected and overlooked. The nutritional focus needs to be not only on dietary calcium, but also on appropriate dietary intakes and ratios of other minerals involved in bone mineralization like magnesium, potassium, zinc, and copper.Sensible dietary recommendations will consider these minerals due to their essential role in promoting good bone health. If one examines the composition of bone, one finds that bone is comprised of living cells that are embedded in a specialized mineral matrix. The mineral composition of bone is similar to the composition of milk.

Dairyfoods are considered to be the best source of calcium and minerals, providing 72% of the calcium available in the food supply. However, as consumption has declined over the last two decades, many people are not getting the “balanced” dietary minerals that milk provides. Milk mineral is an ingredient that retains the mineral balance of milk while allowing for mineral supplementation into products that traditionally do not contain good ratios of bone building minerals. It has been recently shown by several studies that milk mineral contains, the appropriate balance of minerals for optimal bone health. TruCal is the first such product to be manufactured in the US.

Improperly balanced nutrients can cause negative consequences for people at risk for osteoporosis. Certain studies show that improper calcium to magnesium ratios lead to the development of hypermineralization -- bones with calcium levels too high in relationship to other bone minerals, resulting in brittleness. More recent studies have shown that a nutrient imbalance influences the body’s absorption of essential minerals because certain minerals compete for the same chemical pathways in the body. For example, when a diet does not include enough magnesium, and the calcium level is elevated, this causes a rapid decline in magnesium absorption.

The extreme focus on calcium alone has inhibited the promotion of a balanced approach for mineral supplementation, particularly for segments of the population at risk for osteoporosis.TruCal is a naturally-derived dairy ingredient that contains a balanced mineral profile including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper and iron. It can be used to fortify sports beverages, home meal replacement options, baked goods, energy bars, dairy products, even confections.

For more information you can read the following Technical Paper:

Building and Maintaining Strong Bones: A Case for Balance in Dietary Mineral Consumption By Eric Bastian , Ph.D.