7 Best Supplements For Bone Strength
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We’ve taken and researched clean supplements for years — these are our picks for supporting bone health that are backed by science and third-party tested.
Did you know that women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the early stages of menopause? That puts us at increased risk of osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become thinner, weaker, and much more prone to fractures and breaks — in fact, one in two postmenopausal women have it.
None of this is meant to scare you — only to stress the importance of bone health. There are several ways to make sure you’re maintaining good bone health throughout your life, no matter what stage you’re in. Lifting weights, no matter how light, will build bone density, as will other weight-bearing exercises. Avoiding smoking and drinking excessively are also no-brainers.
Calcium is the real star of the bone show, though it’s not without its supporters. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium properly, as do certain other trace minerals. It’s always important to eat a balanced, varied diet full of whole foods. But some folks can’t get enough essential nutrients to stave off bone density depletion through diet alone, which is where supplements come in. 💪
What should you look for in a bone health supplement?
We’ve already touched on the importance of calcium supplements — the mineral is the primary building block for bones and teeth — but plenty of other vitamins and minerals help support bone health, too. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, vitamin helps to facilitate bone mineralization, magnesium helps the body absorb both vitamin D and calcium, zinc is essential for producing collagen, and boron helps you absorb both calcium and magnesium. The right combination of minerals is like a whole positive feedback loop.
Why are clean, third-party tested supplements important?
Whenever we’re looking to supplement our diets here at TGT, we keep our eyes out for a few things to determine where we put our money. Third-party testing is number one — that ensures that a brand’s claims are all true, and not just marketing. We always want supplements that are as pure as possible — no fillers, no artificial colors or flavors, nothing but the pure nutrients, delivered in the most effective way. (For bone supplements, you’ll see these in tablets, capsules, or gummies.) When reading up on a brand, we know how to look for claims that are backed by science and that indicate that a brand has really done its research in terms of what nutrients to use and what forms are most bioavailable.
Our criteria:
Our editors have tested, researched, and corresponded with leading supplement brands to select our favorite clean supplements for comprehensively supporting the strength of your bones. The options on this list are all thoughtfully made and triple-checked for efficacy and safety. We regularly update this guide with new favorites that meet the following criteria:
- CLEAN INGREDIENTS | All supplements are free of unnecessary fillers, sweeteners, or artificial additives and are third-party tested for purity and safety.
- CLINICALLY BACKED | These brands use ingredients supported by clinical studies or partner with experts to develop evidence-based formulas.
- EASY TO INCORPORATE | Whether in capsule, powder, or mix-in form, these supplements are designed for convenience and taste, making them simple to add to your daily routine. Below, we’ve noted the daily dosage so you can decide what works best for you.
Looking for other ways to supplement for bone health? Check out our clean calcium supplement guide. Our women’s multivitamin guide and menopause supplements guide are also great resources for women’s health.
1. Momentous
Best For | Rigorous testing
Active Ingredients | Iron, vitamin D3, calcium, vitamin B, vitamin C
Daily Dose | 1 capsule in the morning, 2 at night
Prices starting at | $55 ($0.91/day)
When it comes to bone strength, so many facets are at play: Age, diet, activity level, vitamins and minerals, absorption — the list goes on. So, to that end, Momentous makes an easy-to-use, easy-to-absorb daily system of supplements to support women of all life stages. Their Women’s Three system comprises an iron+, a calcium, and a vitamin D3 supplement, specifically designed to support not just bones but also energy levels and longevity. Every product Momentous makes (like the Women’s Three, developed with Dr. Stacy Sims) is meticulously formulated with the most bioavailable, high-quality ingredients, and then rigorously tested against standards set by organizations like the NBA, MLB, and Olympic Committee. But their supplements are for non-Olympic athletes, too (although we know plenty of days feel like a marathon!). Of the Women’s Three, the iron+ (which has vitamin C for enhanced absorption) is designed to be taken in the morning, while the calcium and vitamin D3 are for the evening, because iron and calcium can compete for absorption. And their vitamin D3 comes dissolved in olive oil for increased absorption — it’s that science-first approach that sets Momentous apart.
Customer Review | “Consistently high quality supplements, have been taking multiple Momentous products for one year. Just had bloodwork done, great results!” – Karrie M. (Read more reviews.)
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2. Thorne
Best For | Calcium with B vitamins
Active Ingredients | Vitamin D, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium
Daily Dose | 2 capsules twice daily
Prices starting at | $27 ($0.90/day)
Thorne is all about creating personalized supplement solutions that lead to folks living longer, happier, and healthier lives — they even have at-home tests to help you analyze your health and any deficiencies you might have. All of Thorne’s supplements are manufactured at their facility in Summerville, South Carolina, and undergo four rounds of rigorous testing (from raw ingredients to shelf-stable finished product), including their Advanced Bone Support supplement. Designed to be taken in doses of two capsules twice daily, this supplement is a comprehensive blend of more than just calcium (which it contains in the easy-to-absorb dicalcium malate form). It has magnesium, which also supports bone density; vitamin D3, which aids the absorption of calcium; boron, which helps you metabolize vitamin D, and B vitamins, which help you mediate certain risk factors of low bone density. And that’s all—the capsules contain no fillers, and, like all Thorne products, don’t contain anything from the brand’s 60+ ingredient long “No List.”
Customer Review | “I fractured two vertebrae and turned to this during my recovery. I’m naturally a slow healer (smoker) and keep a primarily vegan diet and the combo of Calcuim and B-12 seemed to work perfect (dosing morning and nite) and I recovered in a timely manner. I will take these forever!” – Ryan S. (Read more reviews.)
3. AlgaeCal
Best For | Algae-based calcium
Active Ingredients | Calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, phosphorus, selenium, boron, strontium, vitamins D3, K, C
Daily Dose | 2 capsules in the morning, 4 at night
Prices starting at | $59 ($1.97/day)
When founder Dean Neuls was on a mission to find a calcium source that would not only slow bone loss but also help build bone density, he found the answer in algae — Mesophyllum Superpositum contains all 13 minerals essential to building bone density. AlgaeCal’s Bone Builder Pack comes with their AlgaeCal Plus supplement, chock full of 16 essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, phosphorus, and selenium, all from algae, along with vitamins D3, K, C, and boron. The pack also comes with their Strontium Boost, a nutrient that helps your body absorb the calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D from the AlgaeCal Plus. The brand makes a handful of other supplements, too, like their AlgaeCal basic, which has 14 nutrients instead of 16, or their complete vitamin D supplement that’s supported with vitamins A, K, and E. And if you’re wary of their algae-based supplements, just check out their impressive clinical studies, printed in publications like the Nutrition Journal or the International Journal of Medical Sciences.
Customer Review | “…In under two years, my bone density has increased 6.6% in my spine and 5.6% in my hip. I am so excited that I discovered AlgaeCal, Strontium Boost and Triple Power, and I plan to take it until my bone density is normal.” – Lisa Reiss (Read more reviews.)
4. Future Kind
Best For | Vegan supplements
Active Ingredients | Calcium, magnesium, vitamin D3, omega 3, iron, collagen
Daily Dose | 1–2 capsules per day
Prices starting at | $19 ($0.63/day)
Australian brothers and certified nutritionists Shaun and Eliot founded Future Kind in 2019 when they had trouble finding high-quality, effective vegan supplements. Their brand uses 100% vegan ingredients that are still evidence-based for effective supplementation, and they even carbon offset all deliveries, too. While they don’t have a bone-specific supplement, plenty of their vitamin and mineral supplements do support bone health — like their vegan calcium, which is derived from algae and also contains magnesium; their vitamin D3, which comes from lichen (many other vitamin D supplements are wool-derived) and supports immune function and cell and bone health; and their omega 3, which supports joint and brain health and comes from sustainably sourced algae instead of fish. They also make vegan collagen capsules and protein powders, along with multivitamins for more comprehensive support. And Future Kind still holds their supplements to the same standards as non-vegan products, with plenty of third-party testing.
Customer Review | “I broke my foot, and it wasn’t healing. Doc recommended calcium supplements and a bone stimulator device. As a vegan, it’s hard finding calcium supplements. I was thrilled finding Future Kind – not only was I impressed with everything I read, but I felt the personal commitment to things that are important to me. Combining quality, cruelty-free calcium with the bone stimulator healed my foot within a few months! Thanks, Future Kind!” – Margaret P. (Read more reviews.)
5. Nature Made
Best For | Variety
Active Ingredients | Calcium, vitamin D3, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin K
Daily Dose | 1–3 tablets, gummies, or softgels per day
Prices starting at | $15 ($0.15/day)
Nature Made is the #1 pharmacist-recommended supplement brand, and for good reason — they’ve been around for over 50 years, their supplements are U.S. Pharmacopeia-verified when possible, and they balance affordable price points with high-quality products that are made almost exclusively in the US. Among Nature Made’s 150 dietary supplements are plenty of bone health-specific supplements, designed to provide the nutrients that best support bone health. Their vitamin D3 + K2 supplement supports bone health with easy-to-take peach-flavored gummies, full of D3 to support bones, teeth, and muscles, and K2 to help direct calcium to your bones. Their calcium with vitamin D3 tablets contain 600 mg of calcium along with vitamin D to boost absorption, and they also make a calcium, magnesium, and zinc tablet. We love how no-nonsense Nature Made’s supplement approach is, making it easy to choose the vitamin/mineral combo, dosage, and supplement form that’s right for you (and containing no artificial dyes or flavors!). And everything they make is backed by third-party testing and their on-staff doctors and registered dietitians.
Customer Review | “My family has a history of losing bone density with aging so as a precaution I have added this to my daily requirements. Nature Made is a brand I can trust and this Vitamin D3 is a softgel making it easy to swallow.” – mkkram (Read more reviews.)
6. Pure Encapsulations
Best For | Postmenopausal people
Active Ingredients | Calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, boron
Daily Dose | 3 capsules daily, taken together or separately, with meals
Prices starting at | $25 ($0.69/day when you buy in bulk)
Pure Encapsulations is all about creating supplements that are, well, pure — no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners; no fillers; no gluten, soy, dairy, or eggs; and no nuts, that is. Every ingredient they use goes through rigorous third-party testing and is listed on the label, no matter how trace it is, for total transparency. They even give back by supporting orgs like Global Medical and Trees for the Future. Their OsteoBalance+ supplement encourages healthy bone density with three capsules a day, taken separately or all at once. It’s chock full of bone-supporting nutrients like calcium (in the form of calcium citrate/malate), along with the vitamins and minerals that help with calcium absorption, like vitamin D3. It also has magnesium to support bone mineral density and boron to reduce urinary calcium and magnesium excretion. And the supplement is science-backed — in a two-year, double-blind trial, calcium citrate/malate combined with trace minerals like zinc, copper, and manganese was shown to provide bone mass support, especially in postmenopausal people.
Customer Review | “Recommended by my naturopath, OsteoBalance by Pure Encapsulations not only comes in a large quantity, but is the perfect combination of supplements to help me reduce the number of pills I take every day. Easy on the stomach, as well.” – Pamela (Read more reviews.)
7. New Chapter
Best For | B Corp-certified supplements
Active Ingredients | Calcium, vitamins D3 and K2, magnesium, strontium
Daily Dose | 3 tablets daily with food
Prices starting at | $16 ($1.2/day when you buy in bulk)
New Chapter’s Bone Strength supplements are also formulated with calcium from red marine algae, rather than limestone rock. It also has the vitamins D3 and K2 that are needed for effective calcium absorption — and vitamin D3 also supports cardiovascular health, too, so the supplement supports your bones, teeth, joints, and heart. And from the USDA organic certified red algae, the supplement, crafted in Iceland, also contains supportive minerals like magnesium, strontium, and vanadium. But that’s not all — New Chapter puts sustainability at the heart of everything they do. They’re a certified B Corp, and they’re big on regenerative agriculture. Some of their herbal ingredients all come from regenerative farms, and they financially support regenerative agriculture research. And they have plenty of third-party certifications that ensure their products are coming from sustainable sources, including USDA Organic, ClimbCo, NSF, Upcycled, and Regenerative Organic.
Customer Review | “Bone strength slim tabs are my go to for plant based calcium, easy to swallow, time released tabs. I purchased these for better absorption. Plant based calcium has been shown to improve bone density in DEXA scans. My next scan is later this month and I can’t wait to see improvement.” – thebigmama (Read more reviews.)
Featured image is from Momentous
Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. Since 2022, she has been reviewing the top sustainable home, wellness, fashion, and beauty products, sharing her honest opinion on the best finds. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!
