Each capsule contains Minerals Vitamins and Other Factors Calcium (carbonate, citrate, lactate) 150 mg Vitamin C 25 mg Magnesium (aspartate, oxide) 62.5 mg Niacinamide 12.5 mg Zinc (picolinate) 5 mg Vitamin B6 6.25 mg Manganese (aspartate) 5 mg Thiamin HCl 5 mg Boron (citrate) 0.75 mg Pantothenic Acid (D-Calcium pantothenate) 5 mg Copper (gluconate) 0.5 mg Riboflavin 5 mg Silicon (Silicon amino- acid chelate) 0.25 mg Betaine HCl 5mg Chromium (aspartate) 50 mcg Folic acid 200 mcg Selenium (Sodium selenite) 25 mcg Vitamin K 75 mcg Molybdenum (sodium molybdate) 12.5 mcg Vitamin B12 5 mcg     Vitamin D 50 IU Recommended Dosage 2 capsules twice a day during or after meals. OsteoForce Plus is designed to provide the mineral, vitaminand other nutrient supplementation required as an aid in preventingosteoporosis. In addition, otherminerals and vitamins have been incorporated, whose deficiency is commonlyfound in post-menopausal women. Calcium Calcium is the principal mineral in bone (99%). Even beforemenopause calcium loss occurs from the bones which acceleratespost-menopausally. However, many other factors are involved in osteoporosis. InBantu women who only consume 300 mg a day of calcium –; far below therecommended dose for Western women, osteoporosis is rare. These other factorsprobably relate to diet (high levels of protein intake, calcium/phosphorusratio) and life style (physical activity). ;Loss of calcium in post-menopausal women can reach 90 mg/ day. Magnesium Magnesium is very important in bone formation. It isinvolved in a number of processes essential for bone growth: activation ofalkaline phosphatase –; an enzyme which associated with osteoblastic activity(osteoblasts are the cells responsible for laying down of new bone), and inconverting vitamin D to its active form. Magnesium deficiency is common inolder people in North America. Manganese Manganese is important for formation of connective tissueand bone mineralization. In one study, women with osteoporosis had only 25% ofthe blood manganese concentrations as those of a control group. Moreover, ratswhich were given a manganese deficient diet had less dense bones whichfractured more easily than those of a control group. Grains are rich inmanganese, but the manganese is lost during their refinement. ; Zinc Zinc is essential for bone formation. Low levels of zinc arefound in osteoporosis patients. It activates vitamin D, which is required forbone formation. Boron Boron was shown about 10 years ago to be an important factorin the biosynthesis of 17-β;-estradiol–; the most active estrogen involved in bone metabolism. In post-menopausalwomen 3 mg a day reduced urinary calcium excretion by 44% and increased 17-β;-estradiol levels to the same aswomen on estrogen therapy. It is believed to be a factor in the conversion ofprecursor steroids and vitamin D to their active (hydroxylated) forms. Copper Copper appears essential for maintenance of strong bones.Copper inhibits bone resorption in vitro and in experiments conducted on rats,which were given a copper deficient diet, there was reduced bone strength andmineral content. Silicon Silicon occurs in high concentration in osteogenic cells –;with a concentration range similar to that of calcium, magnesium andphosphorus. It is required for mucopolysaccharide synthesis and increases therate of bone mineralization independent of vitamin D. Vitamin K Vitamin K converts osteocalcin to its active form.Osteocalcin, the major non-collagen protein, chelates and thus retains calciumin the bone. Vitamin K appears to be required for the carboxylation of theglutamic acid residue in the osteocalcin precursor (it performs a similarfunction in blood clotting factors –; converting them to their active forms).When vitamin K was given to patients with osteoporosis, there was an 18-50%decrease in urinary calcium excretion. Vitamin K deficiency may be more commonthan generally believed. Vitamin C Vitamin C (together with iron) is a factor in thebiosynthesis of hydroxyproline – an amino acid found only in collagen andrelated connective tissue. Hydroxyproline stabilizes the helical structure ofcollagen to enzymatic degradation. Vitamin C is a very common deficiency. Folic Acid Homocysteine build up may play a role in the development ofosteoporosis, since it inhibits the cross-linking of collagen (important inbone formation). Folic acid lowers blood homocysteine levels. Vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 are required for biosynthesis offolic acid. Vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 is required for the activation of enzymesinvolved in the crosslinking of collagen. ;Vitamin B6 deficiency is quite common in women. Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) Niacinamide has a wide variety of functions. It forms partof nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). In dietary studies conducted on theolder population, vitamin B3 deficiency was very common. Vitamin B3 increasesthe HDL/LDL ratio, reducing triglyceride levels and increasing braincirculation. Thiamin HCl Thiamin is involved as part of TPP in oxidativedecarboxylation of α;-ketoacids and in the activation of transketolase. ;Thiamin (as thiamin triphosphate) also plays an essential role in nervetransmission. ; Deficiency of thiamin iscommon in older people and there is evidence of deficiency of thiamin beingassociated with irritability, depression, insomnia and memory loss. Pantothenic Acid Pantothenic acid is part of coenzyme A, which is a carrierof acyl groups in fatty acid oxidation and synthesis, acetylation reactions andoxidative decarboxylations (together with thiamin). Pantothenic acid deficiency(even mild) is associated with fatigue. It appears that intake of pantothenicacid has decreased over the last 40 years from 7 to 3-4 mg daily, because ofdietary changes. Betaine HCl Betaine can transfer methyl groups to homocysteine to formmethionine and dimethylglycine. ;Homocysteine has been implicated as a causative factor inarteriosclerosis. Chromium Chromium is important in activating insulin as part of theglucose tolerance factor.  Chromium canexert considerable effect on blood glucose levels in mildly diabetic patients.Chromium is found in brewer’s yeast and whole grains – but insufficient intakeseems to be prevalent in North American diets (90% of subjects in a studyconsumed less than half the minimum amount recommended by the National ResearchCouncil – 50 mcg). Molybdenum Molybdenum occurs in three enzymes: xanthine oxidase (whichproduces uric acid), sulfite oxidase (which converts toxic sulfites tosulfates) and aldehyde oxidase (which converts toxic aldehydes such asacetaldehyde –; from ethanol oxidation to relatively non-toxic acetate). Thereis some antagonism between copper and molybdenum. Selenium Selenium is a major anti-oxidant in the body. It is found inthe enzyme glutathione oxidase, which removes hydrogen peroxide (converting itto water). Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizing agent and destructive tothe body. ; In red blood cellsaccumulation of hydrogen peroxide decreases the life span thecells.