Basketball star Bill Walton, although young and fit, kept breaking bones, had chronic bone pain and had slow fracture healing until scientists discovered that he was deficient in trace minerals, including zinc, manganese and copper. Dietary supplementation corrected his problem. Required for bone collagen formation and the initiation of normal calcification of bone tissue, the optimum daily intake of silicon is unknown, possibly 10-20 mg . While phosphorus is a major constituent of healthy bones and teeth, most people will never need to take it as a supplement. Whereas a healthy ratio should be 1 to 1, the average civilized diet contains 2 to 4 times as much phosphorus as calcium.
Excess phosphorus stimulates the parathyroid gland to extract calcium from the bones.
It also inhibits magnesium absorption. Meat, processed foods and carbonated beverages often contain high levels of phosphorus. While fluoride provides strength, durability and resistance to demineralization of teeth and bones, there is considerable controversy regarding the sources of fluoride and its maximum safe dosage. Some clinicians feel that fluoride supplementation in any form is unwarranted. Synthetic sodium fluoride may actually increase fracture rates, while fluoride from natural sources found in food are beneficial.