Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and vitamin C contribute to healthy bone growth?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
human nutrition
MyPlate, a revised set of dietary guidelines introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2011, divides the four basic food groups (fruits, grains, protein, and vegetables) into sections on a plate, the size of each section representing the relative dietary proportions of each food group. The small blue circle shown at the upper right illustrates the inclusion and recommended proportion of dairy products in the diet.
Healthy bone growth and maintenance rely on a complex interplay of minerals and vitamins that ensure structural integrity and proper mineralization.
- Calcium: As the primary mineral constituent of bone, calcium provides mechanical strength. Approximately 99 percent of the body's calcium is stored in the skeleton, which acts as a reservoir to maintain stable blood calcium levels necessary for vital functions like muscle contraction and nerve transmission. When dietary intake is insufficient, the body resorbs calcium from bone, which can reduce bone mass.12
- Phosphorus: This mineral is essential for bone structure, with about 85 percent of the body's total phosphorus residing in bone mineral deposits. It works alongside calcium to form the mineralized matrix of the skeleton. A deficiency in phosphorus can lead to poorly mineralized bone, manifesting as rickets in children or osteomalacia in adults.231
- Vitamin D: This prohormone is critical for calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Its active form, calcitriol, increases the efficiency of intestinal calcium absorption and regulates osteoblast activity to support bone formation.421
- Vitamin C: Also known as ascorbic acid, it is essential for the intracellular formation of collagen, the organic matrix of bone. Without sufficient vitamin C, this matrix cannot properly calcify.1