Function of Food Components on Bone and Skeletal Muscle Metabolism

Although Japan has the world's longest life expectancy, a gap of about 10 years exists between "average life expectancy" and "healthy life expectancy".This means that many of the nation's citizens end their lives after several years of declining quality of life due to health problems and the need for nursing care in their later years.Osteoporosis and sarcopenia (weakening of skeletal muscles) cause the need for support and care, and can progress to frailty (age-related weakness).Therefore, the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and sarcopenia are urgently needed to maintain and improve the health of the Japanese people and to realize a vibrant and prosperous economic society in our hyper-aged society.Based on the concept of "medicine and food as the source of all life," which refers to the prevention of disease through a well-balanced diet, osteoporosis and sarcopenia are diseases that should be prevented through daily diet.The authors have focused on flavonoids such as vignacyanidin and nobiletin, royal jelly, geranylgeraniol, and vitamin C related to honey bees to elucidate their functions in bone and muscle metabolism.In this review, we discuss the possibility of dietary prevention of osteoporosis and sarcopenia.