• Hormone Replacement Therapy

What Hormones are Produced in the Bones?

Published: August 07, 2025
Updated: August 07, 2025
5 mins

You may not always think of the bones as much more than a skeletal system, but they are a key part of endocrine functions in the body as well. Your endocrine system is a group of glands and organs that produce hormones throughout the body. 

Once the endocrine system produces hormones, they enter the bloodstream. Hormone-like substances in the bones do a lot of the behind-the-scenes work to keep your body moving. The bones produce key hormones responsible for keeping your bones strong, so you can continue to lift heavy objects and engage in physical activities. 

Hormones in your bones assist in processes with the kidneys and lungs as well. Calcium and phosphorus levels remain high when there is a sufficient amount of hormone-like substances in your bones.

As you age, it’s normal to see a natural decline in bone strength. However, you can adopt healthy habits while you’re young to keep your bones strong for longer. Still, genetics and environment can play a role in how quickly your bone health declines.

How Do the Bones Produce Hormones?

• Osteocalcin: Amino acids from osteoblasts in the bones make up the hormone-like substance osteocalcin.

• Fibroblast growth factor 23: Osteoclasts help to form hormones like fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in your bones. 

• Sclerostin: Osteocytes produce sclerostin in the bones. Sclerostin is a small hormone-like protein. It inhibits the Wnt signaling pathway to help bones form.

• Parathyroid hormone (PTH): Amino acids make up the parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid cells release PTH in the bones.

• Sex hormones: Bone tissues convert testosterone into estrogen through an enzyme called aromatase to help remodel bones in the body.

What is the Function of Hormones Produced in the Bones?

The main function of hormones in the bones is to maintain and lengthen bones over time as the body grows. Still, hormones in different parts of the body don’t tend to work in isolation. The following hormones support bone growth and bodily processes in other parts of the body as well.

Osteocalcin function

Osteocalcin is an osteo protein. Along with FGF23, osteocalcin helps to regulate energy in the body. Osteocalcin also works with other cells to secrete insulin and increase insulin sensitivity.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 function

FGF23 plays a major role in bone formation and mineralization. It also affects vitamin D production in the kidneys.

People with chronic kidney disease and other bone disorders like osteoporosis may have elevated amounts of FGF23 in their blood. High FGF23 coincides with disturbances in phosphate metabolism, which can contribute to vascular calcification.

Sclerostin function

Sclerostin plays a crucial role in regulating bone formation and remodeling, making it an important target in the treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Beyond its effects on bone, sclerostin also influences some processes in other organs, including the kidneys, lungs, and liver.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) function

The parathyroid hormone helps produce calcium in the bones. PTH also promotes the absorption of vitamin D. As you age, parathyroid hormone levels tend to get higher.

Bone turnover may be higher in postmenopausal women with lower estrogen levels. Less estrogen may also affect PTH levels.

Sex hormones function

Bones can produce and release sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen, playing a supporting role for the overall hormonal environment that affects bone health. These hormones play a key role in bone remodeling and also help with skeletal growth in both males and females.

A lack of estrogen or testosterone in women may affect bone strength. Health experts have found a connection between osteoporosis and postmenopausal women with low estrogen.

What Happens When Bone Hormone Production Shifts

As you just learned, bones produce hormones that influence far more than skeletal health. They help regulate blood sugar, muscle strength, brain function, reproductive health, and more.

But bone turnover naturally increases with age, and factors like chronic illness, osteoporosis, or poor nutrition can reduce bone hormone production.

Excess cortisol production in bone tissue can also weaken bones, contributing to osteoporosis and other conditions. Disorders such as Cushing’s syndrome and hypothyroidism can impair bone health, too.

Hormonal shifts in the bones don’t always cause noticeable symptoms. Some changes are too small to cause any symptoms.

However, menopause significantly reduces estrogen levels overall, and since bone is a source and reservoir for estrogen, this loss accelerates bone density decline and alters bone-related hormone activity.

Tips for Managing Hormonal Imbalances in the Bones

Risk factors such as aging, menopause, family history, and weight changes can affect your bone health. 

Consider the following tips for improving your hormonal and bone health:

• Engage in weight-bearing exercises

• Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables

• Increase your exposure to vitamin D 

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Avoid drinking alcohol excessively

• Quit tobacco

• Get at least eight hours of sleep a night

Research has shown that staying active stimulates bone tissue to maintain bone strength. While any type of exercise is beneficial for your overall health, resistance training is best for slowing down bone loss.

Besides getting safe exposure to sunlight, you can ingest vitamin D in foods like broccoli, salmon, and various nuts and seeds. Magnesium and vitamin D supplements may improve your bone health.

Be sure to check with your healthcare provider before starting any supplements. Some supplements may interact with certain medications.

Where Can I Learn More About Bone Health?

Changes in your hormones are not always a sign of a health issue. As you age, it’s normal for your hormones and bone health to change.

The LifeMD Women’s Health Program offers compassionate, personalized care for women approaching or experiencing menopause. With LifeMD, a licensed healthcare provider can help you understand how hormonal changes affect your bone health, guide you in restoring hormonal balance, and recommend preventative strategies to slow, stop, or even reverse osteoporosis.

Join the waitlist today and start addressing your daily health needs.