Just as Donguibogam states that the kidney governs the bones, modern medicine views bone health as a complex biological system that cannot be explained by calcium alone. In particular, the decline in bone mineral density seen during a woman's climacteric is closely linked to a rapid drop in estrogen. Estrogen plays an essential role in inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts, which break down bone, and promoting the activity of osteoblasts, which build bone. When estrogen secretion drops during the climacteric, the activity of bone-destroying osteoclasts becomes dominant, accelerating bone resorption. As a result, bone microarchitecture is damaged and bone mineral density drops rapidly. This is one of the key mechanisms behind osteoporosis.
While bones appear to be solid, rigid structures, they actually undergo a constant remodeling process, clearing old bone and creating new bone. If this process does not function properly, bones inevitably weaken. Beyond estrogen, various hormones and nutrients participate in this complex remodeling process. For example, vitamin D aids calcium absorption in the small intestine and promotes calcium reabsorption in the kidneys, playing an essential role in maintaining blood calcium levels. Additionally, parathyroid hormone regulates calcium homeostasis by stimulating calcium release from bones when blood calcium levels drop.
Recently, research on the interaction between the nervous system and bone has also been actively progressing. Nerves distributed throughout bone tissue not only transmit pain signals, but have also been found to participate in bone growth and remodeling. Interesting findings also show that neurotransmitters such as serotonin and leptin are closely connected to bone metabolism. Furthermore, emerging studies suggest that gut health and the gut microbiota influence calcium and vitamin D absorption, indirectly contributing to bone health by regulating the immune system and inflammatory responses.
In this way, modern medicine views bone as a key indicator of systemic health, revealing that it is deeply connected to overall physical condition rather than being an isolated issue. The Donguibogam perspective viewing the kidney as the root of bones and the modern medical view linking complex elements—such as hormones, the nervous system, and gut health—to bone health ultimately share the same underlying principle of seeing the body as an interconnected organism. In the end, bone health cannot be resolved simply by taking calcium supplements; it requires a comprehensive effort to restore balance throughout the entire body.
