What nutrients are necessary to ensure proper bone development and prevent bone abnormalities?

• A. Sodium and potassium
• B. Iron and zinc
• C. Vitamin C and vitamin E
• D. Calcium and phosphorus

Answer: (D)

Bones get their strength from minerals that mineralize the collagen scaffold. The major minerals involved are calcium and phosphorus. Calcium provides the mass and density of bone, while phosphorus combines with calcium to form calcium phosphate crystals (hydroxyapatite) that harden the bone and give it structural strength. When intake of these minerals is insufficient, bone growth can be slow or abnormal, and weaknesses or deformities can develop. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, but the minerals themselves are the direct components that make bones strong, which is why calcium and phosphorus are the most important pair for proper bone development.

Sodium and potassium are mainly about fluid balance and nerve/muscle function; iron and zinc support growth and enzymatic processes but aren’t the primary minerals that form bone mineral content; vitamin C and vitamin E support collagen production and antioxidant protection but do not constitute the mineral crystals that harden bone.