Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics: A Tool for Enhancing
Calcium Absorption

Research Reveals Beneficial Bacteria and ‘Sister Minerals’ Builds Bone Density

It has been a mystery in the United States for years. With our high consumption of dairy products, why is it that we still have an incredibly high incidence of osteoporosis? Researchers in Asia, where osteoporosis and dairy consumption have historically been relatively low, might have found a significant clue.

Unfortunately, the calcium we consume through milk and supplements is often not absorbed or used to build bone. In fact, without a healthy probiotic population in the gut and the presence of other bone-building cofactors like vitamins D and K2, magnesium, zinc, and essential fatty acids, calcium can pass right through undigested. Or, even worse, excess calcium turns into unhealthy deposits in soft tissue and arteries.

The good news is simple dietary adjustments can alter the body’s internal chemistry in favor of building strong bones. Research done exclusively on Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics found that when women aged 48 and older took the probiotic supplement for at least eight weeks, their bone density was 36 percent higher than those who didn’t.

“Scientists suspect that probiotics help the body properly digest calcium,” said Fred Pescatore, M.D., a Manhattan-based author and internist specializing in holistic health and nutrition. “The friendly bacteria also manufacture some of the vitamin cofactors needed for bone-building including B₆, B₁₂, K, and folic acid.”

It’s a surprising side benefit of probiotics, frequently touted for supporting digestive health and immune response. Derived from a fermented vegetable blend, it is a whole food that contains Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics. Scientists have noted that providing pro-, pre-, and post-biotic components for the GI tract enhances calcium uptake. Such dramatic results might not occur when using freeze-dried probiotic supplements.

In addition to probiotic supplementation, Dr. Pescatore encourages women to increase magnesium intake for better bone health. “Magnesium regulates calcium absorption into our bones and ensures calcium deposits don’t wind up in the soft tissue. The proper balance for our body is a ratio of 2:1 calcium to magnesium. But if you have been deficient in magnesium due to high stress or from taking calcium-rich supplements or foods, you may want to increase your magnesium intake even more.”

These dietary tips are encouraging to the 8 million American women who are diagnosed with osteoporosis and the approximately 24 million others who are at a high risk of developing it. Once again, prevention is critical. Not only should mature adults ensure they keep up on prebiotics and vitamin supplementation for bone health, but they should also pass those habits to the next generation.

• In the United States, 1.9 million osteoporosis-related fractures occur annually, with a projected increase of 3.2 million by 2040, resulting in related healthcare costs of up to $95 billion annually.

• One in two women and up to one in four men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

• Each year in the USA, approximately 300,000 hip fractures occur. Approximately 25% of patients die in the year following the fracture. Another 25% move from the hospital to a nursing facility and never return home. The remaining 50% never regain their previous function, and six months after a hip fracture, only 15% of patients can walk across a room unaided.

• A cup of cooked collard greens provides more calcium (and healthful nutrients) than a cup of milk.

• Sugar, soft drinks, caffeine, smoking, and excess alcohol intake can hinder the bone-building process.