Role of vitamins in the development and treatment of osteoporosis (Review)
Min Jiang, Guang Li, Keda Yang, Tao Lin
Abstract
Osteoporosis has escalated into a pressing public health challenge amidst global demographic aging. Conventional diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions demonstrate growing limitations in both risk stratification and epidemiological control. In this context, serological monitoring and targeted nutrient supplementation emerge as promising preventive strategies. Vitamins, fundamental regulators of cellular homeostasis, demonstrate particular significance in bone remodeling processes. The present comprehensive review elucidates the pathophysiological mechanisms through which specific vitamins differentially modulate osteoblastic activity and osteoclastic regulation, summarizing contemporary evidence from the molecular to clinical research levels. While vitamin A exhibits dual effects, other vitamins predominantly show positive impacts on bone homeostasis. Oxidative stress and inflammation are key pathological changes associated with osteoporosis. Vitamins play a protective role by enhancing the expression of antioxidant enzymes, activating antioxidant pathways and inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, thereby mitigating these conditions. Serum vitamin concentrations exhibit significant correlations with bone mineral density alterations and osteoporosis progression, providing predictive biomarkers for fracture risk assessment. However, serum vitamin profiles exhibit marked heterogeneity across osteoporosis risk strata, necessitating population‑specific therapeutic protocols. Precision‑adjusted supplementation strategies effectively attenuate pathological bone resorption while preserving physiological remodeling homeostasis. The present review systematically delineates the therapeutic potential of vitamins in osteoporotic management, underscoring the necessity for evidence‑based precision nutrient protocols tailored to at‑risk populations to prevent disease progression.