Effects of thirty elements on bone metabolism

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Human Physiology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• The human skeleton comprises 206 bones essential for support, organ protection, movement, and mineral storage.
• Bone tissue is a composite of organic structures and an inorganic matrix, actively maintained by bone cells.
• Environmental elements significantly influence bone metabolism, with effects often concentration-dependent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify all elements impacting human bone health.
• To explore the specific mechanisms through which these elements affect bone metabolism.
• To provide a comprehensive summary of the effects of thirty minerals on bone metabolism.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on elemental effects on bone.
• Analysis of biochemical pathways mediating elemental impacts on bone cells and matrix.
• Categorization of elements based on their essentiality, toxicity, and dual roles in bone health.

Main Results:

• Thirty distinct minerals were identified as influencing bone metabolism.
• Elements exhibit diverse effects, ranging from essential for bone health to deleterious at certain concentrations.
• Multiple cellular and molecular pathways are involved in mediating the impact of elemental imbalances on bone.

Conclusions:

• Elemental composition of the body and environment critically affects skeletal health.
• Understanding element-specific mechanisms is key to preventing and treating bone disorders.
• This review offers a foundational summary of thirty minerals' roles in bone metabolism.