What is bone health?
Bones give you structure, protect your organs, store minerals such as calcium and phosphate, and house the marrow that makes blood cells. They are constantly being reshaped. Cells called osteoclasts remove old bone, while osteoblasts lay down new bone. In early life, building outpaces removal. Later, the balance can gradually shift, which is why bone health becomes a more common topic as people age.
How your genes play a role
Many genes guide this balance. RANKL, RANK and OPG form a signaling system that controls when old bone is removed. VDR helps your body respond to vitamin D, which supports calcium absorption. LRP5 influences bone building, COL1A1 helps form the collagen framework of bone, and ESR1 and ESR2 respond to estrogen, a hormone that helps protect bone.
Bone health builds slowly and quietly across a lifetime, so understanding your tendencies early can be valuable. It may help you think about weight-bearing activity, nutrition and sunlight in a more personal way. It can also offer useful context when talking with your clinician about bone density screening or family history. The goal is simply to know your framework a little better.
What your report shows
Your Bone Health results are explained in plain language in your private EvoDNA account, alongside the other areas in your kit.
- Remodeling balanceVariants in the signaling genes that guide how bone is removed and rebuilt.
- Vitamin D responseHow your vitamin D receptor gene may influence calcium handling.
- Mineral regulationGenes linked to how your body manages calcium and phosphate.
- Hormonal influenceVariants in estrogen receptor genes that relate to bone maintenance.
| Gene | What it does | Result |
|---|---|---|
| VDR | Encodes the vitamin D receptor, which helps cells respond… | Typical |
| RANKL | Produces a signal that activates osteoclasts, the cells that… | Moderate effect |
| OPG | Makes a decoy protein that blocks RANKL, helping protect… | Typical |
Each result comes with a plain-language explanation and practical points to discuss with your clinician.
Illustration only. Your report reflects your own genetic results.
Genes we analyze
| Gene | Role |
|---|---|
| VDR | Encodes the vitamin D receptor, which helps cells respond to vitamin D and absorb calcium. |
| RANKL | Produces a signal that activates osteoclasts, the cells that remove old bone. |
| OPG | Makes a decoy protein that blocks RANKL, helping protect bone from excess breakdown. |
| LRP5 | Encodes a receptor that helps signal bone-building cells and is linked to bone density. |
| CASR | Encodes a sensor that detects calcium levels in the blood and helps keep them stable. |
Full panel: 14 genes
VDR, RANK, RANKL, OPG, ALPL, BGLAP, COL1A1, LRP5, CALCR, CASR, PHEX, FGF23, ESR1, ESR2
Putting results to use
Many people use their results as a starting point for conversations with their clinician about:
Walking, strength training and similar activities are widely discussed as signals for bone building.
Dairy, leafy greens and fortified foods are common sources of calcium.
Sensible sunlight and a conversation with your clinician about vitamin D can support bone health.
Activities that improve balance and muscle strength help protect bones in everyday life.
Questions
Can my genes tell me my bone density?
No. Bone density is measured with a scan, usually recommended by a clinician. Genetics provides context about tendencies, not current measurements.
Is bone health only a concern later in life?
Bone is built most actively in youth and early adulthood, and habits throughout life matter. That makes it a relevant topic at every age.
Why are estrogen receptor genes included?
Estrogen helps regulate bone remodeling in both women and men. Variation in its receptors is studied in relation to bone maintenance.
Only interested in this area? The Bone Strength Genetic Report is available on its own for $99.00.
