How does hydroxyapatite work?

Hydroxyapatite provides the hardness and support of bones and teeth in the body. Teeth are made of 70% to 80% large hydroxyapatite crystals, which are organized by matrix proteins such as amelogenins and enamelins, providing a framework for mineralization and demineralization of enamel. In the bone, nano-hydroxyapatite crystals in the shape of needles and plates are organized by a network of type-I collagen, resulting in the structural stability and hardness of bones.^[1] As a supplement, hydroxyapatite is a source of dietary calcium which reduces bone resorption, which is the body’s process of breaking down bones to ensure there is sufficient calcium in the blood. This contributes to increased bone mineral density and, theoretically, to stronger bones.^[2]