October 27, 2025
High Oxalates and Low Calcium Linked to Bone Fractures — New Study
Discover the latest published study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition about the rising intake of anti-nutrients, declining calcium consumption, and a corresponding increase in bone health issues among adults.
A newly published study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has uncovered a concerning trend in U.S. dietary habits, such as, a rising intake of anti-nutrients like phytates and oxalates, declining calcium consumption, and a corresponding increase in bone health issues among adults.
The study, titled “Rising phytate and oxalate intake, declining calcium intake, and bone health in United States adults: 1999–2023”, analyzed data from the NHANES database across a 24-year span. Researchers measured calcium intake, serum calcium levels, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture incidence in adults aged 18–85.
Key Findings
What sets this study apart is its inclusion of oxalates and phytates, two well-known anti-nutrients that bind to dietary calcium and hinder its absorption. This ultimately reduces calcium bioavailability and potentially compromising bone health.
The study showed:
- Phytate intake increased by 40.5% and oxalate intake by 16.1% since 1999.
- Calcium intake has declined significantly since 2010, largely due to reduced milk consumption. As a result, more calcium is now sourced from plant-based foods, which tend to be higher in anti-nutrients.
- This dietary shift correlates with a notable decrease in average BMD and a rise in osteoporosis and fractures, particularly at the hip, wrist, and spine.
The authors concluded that “diets with greater phytate and oxalate and lower calcium and dairy intake may contribute to reduced calcium bioavailability and unfavorable bone health outcomes among United States adults.”
Balchem’s Role in Advancing Anti-Nutrient Research
While Balchem did not directly fund this study, it marks the first published use of the algorithm developed through our collaboration with ILSI North America. This tool, created with Balchem’s support, was designed to help researchers better quantify and analyze the impact of anti-nutrients on health outcomes. Seeing it applied in a major publication is a milestone for the field and a validation of our commitment to advancing nutritional science.
Let’s Collaborate
If you’re working on a project related to bone health, nutrient bioavailability, or anti-nutrient analysis, we’d love to support your efforts. Reach out to us to explore how our tools, insights, and expertise can help move your research forward.
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