The contribution of these nutrients may come from fruit
and vegetable consumption, as there is a positive correlation
between these and bone mass in girls and in boys, at
prepubescent and adolescent ages [40,102], and in adults
[103,104]. However, much controversy exists on this matter
because no relationship has been reported in other studies
[105].
Fruits and vegetables supply potassium and magnesium
to the organism, and when the diet is acidic, they have a
muffling effect on the decrease of bone mass as they contribute
to create an alkaline ambient [106,107]. Magnesium
also plays an important role in the binomial vitamin D–PTH
[3]. Vegetables also supply vitamin K, which is an essential
cofactor in osteoclast metabolism [108], natural antioxidants,
and phytoestrogens, which may also have a bone
protective effect [109].