Peter Burckhardt - Böcker

Nutritional Influences on Bone Health presents a collection of papers from the 8th International Symposium on Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis, the primary forum for and only regular meeting exclusively devoted to the topic of nutritional influences on bone health.

The seventh symposium on “Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis” continues to be the primary forum for scientists to focus on the impact of nutrition on bone health in general. Since 1991, the year of the frst symposium, research in this feld has increased impressively and has become an established part of research and science in osteology. This symposium in particular featured many global comparisons in diet and the effect on bone. As Western diet permeates more of the globe and the popu- tion continues to grow, it is meaningful to study the impact of these changes on bone health as diet is one of the few major modifable factors which in turn affects health care costs. Calcium, vitamin D, and acid-base balance continued to dominate the discussion. The symposium offered an opportunity to learn about theories and data in nutritional research concerning bone as well as methodological approaches to cl- sify diets. The proceedings allow the reader to capture the new messages, to analyze thenew scientifc data presented, and to use the book as a source of references in this feld. Peter Burckhardt Bess Dawson-Hughes Connie Weaver v Acknowledgments th This work comprises papers from the 7 International Symposium on Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis in 2009 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Nutritional Influences on Bone Health presents a collection of papers from the 8th International Symposium on Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis, the primary forum for and only regular meeting exclusively devoted to the topic of nutritional influences on bone health.

For the third time, specialists from all over the world met to present their most recent scientific results and to update their knowledge in the expand­ ing field of nutrition and, osteoporosis. Major nutrition-al factors, such as calcium and vitamin D, were reexamined, with special attention on the ef­ fects of calcium, given either as a supplement or in dairy products in chil­ dren and adolescents, and to vitamin D supplementation in the elderly. The RDA for calcium was questioned, and the calcium requirement was rede­ fined. Special attention was paid to proteins and their growth promoting action via IGF-l, as well as to the profound effects on calcium and bone metabolism of vegetarian diets or diets rich in acidic or alkaline foods. Although considered an environmental factor influencing the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, nutrition was discussed in relation to genetic conditions, because certain genetic conditions modifY patients' responses to nutritional deficiencies and to supplementary interventions. These proceedings report the wide spectrum of research currently being undertaken and the new perspectives this presents and emphasize the sig­ nificant and important impact of nutrition on bone health and disease.