Like many women, as well as men, I actively seek ways to support bone health. So when a new ingredient comes along that shows some promise, I want to know more.

Most recently my radar has focused on MBP®(trademarked by MEGMILK SNOW BRAND Co., Ltd.). It’s a newly discovered protein complex, and an important new option to help support healthy bone density.

MBP, the trade name for Milk Basic Protein, was developed in Japan where it has been used for years in everything from functional foods to dietary supplements. There is also some presence of MBP in products in Canada, and most recently it launched in the United States under various name brands.

As I learned more about MBP there were several key features that stood out to me. First off, I was happy to see how simple the source material is for MBP. It’s a fraction of whey protein found in milk. About 3 glasses of milk, approximately 32 ounces, is used to produce the research-backed, one capsule, daily dosage of 40 mg of MBP.

MBP supports bone health in various ways. A snapshot of how bones function can help us better understand how it works. Bone is a living tissue that is constantly being renewed in a two-stage process, (resorption and formation), typically occurring throughout life. In the resorption stage, old bone is broken down and removed by cells called osteoclasts. In the formation stage, cells called osteoblasts build new bone to replace the bone loss.  Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein, and a component of MBP, which has been reported to increase osteoblast activities (formation).

Four double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on MBP indicate it helps promote healthy net bone density in women of all ages by supporting a healthy balance of new bone building and bone breakdown. All of these studies showed positive results after only 6 months of usage of the research-backed, 40 mg, daily dosage.

Equally impressive is MBP‘s ability to work without additional calcium. In fact, the study participants who got calcium only from their diets demonstrated statistically positiveresults.  Therefore, MBP gives us an option to support bone density without the potential risks associated with high levels of calcium supplementation.  

The number of people dealing with bone issues is huge and for many, healthy options to support the health of their bones is slim. That’s why, when a new ingredient comes along that shows some promise, I know I'm not the only one eager to learn more about it and consider incorporating the new kid on the block. This time it’s MBP.

Julie Dennis has been a lecturer, writer and consultant in the natural products industry for over 20 years. Currently she lectures nationwide discussing health-related topics and intelligent usage of nutraceutical and botanical supplements. She graduated from Dr. Michael Tierra’s East West School of Herbology in 1996, contributed to major natural products industry trade publications, and assisted with editing on books including the American Botanical Council’s Clinical Guide to Herbs, and The Handbook of Clinically Tested Herbal Products, Haworth Press.