Osteoporosis - Make No Bones About It
by Nelly Atallah, Pharm. D.
October 1, 2009
brought to you by Bellevue Pharmacy, a ProjectAWARE sponsor
Osteoporosis (osteo = bone + porosis = porous) is a common bone
disease that affects 44 million people in the United States. Osteoporosis
causes bones to become brittle and break easily. It can affect people
at any age, but is most commonly seen in the aging population. One
out of every two women and one out of every four men over the age
of fifty will have an osteoporosis–related fracture in their
lifetime.
Bones provide structural support for movement and organ protection
and storage of minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium,
sodium, and carbonate. When the body is not supplied with adequate
amounts of these nutrients, the minerals are mobilized out of the
bones. Throughout a lifetime, old bone is removed and new bone is
added to the skeleton. In younger individuals the rate of new bone
formation is higher than the rate of bone removal. As people age
the rate of bone loss is greater than new bone formation which leads
to a decrease in bone mass and ultimately osteoporosis.
There are several factors which can increase the risk for developing
of osteoporosis. Such risk factors include people older than 50,
female gender, small-framed individuals, family history of the disease,
Caucasian and Asian ethnicities, estrogen and/or testosterone deficiency,
a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and inadequate intake of calcium
and vitamin D. Most of these risk factors are inherited and cannot
be changed, however there are a few of the factors that can be controlled
with simple lifestyle changes.
Studies show that people who exercise regularly can lower their
risk for osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercise has been shown to
be effective in maintaining bone mass. Examples of weight-bearing
exercises include walking, jogging, hiking, stair climbing, weight
training, tennis, and dancing. Other lifestyle modifications that
can be made to reduce the risk of osteoporosis include quitting
smoking and reducing alcohol intake.
An inadequate supply of calcium over a lifetime can contribute
to the development of osteoporosis. Studies show that low calcium
intake is associated with low bone mass, rapid bone loss, and high
fracture rates. Different age groups require different amounts of
dietary calcium intake.
Recommended Daily Intake *
Male & Female
Age |
mg/day |
|
|
7-12 months |
270 |
1-3 years |
500 |
4-8 years |
800 |
9-18 years |
1300 |
19-50 years |
1000 |
51+ years |
1200 |
*Developed by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy
of Sciences
Most Americans are not meeting the recommended daily allowance
of calcium. The Department of Agriculture’s Food Guide Pyramid
recommends that everyone 2 years of age and older eat 2-3 servings
of dairy per day. Foods rich in calcium include:
• An 8 ounce glass of milk
• 1.5 ounces of natural cheese
• 2 ounces of processed cheese
• 8 ounces of yogurt
• 2.25 cups of cooked broccoli
• 1.5 cups of cooked kale
Supplementing with the right amount of calcium a day is not sufficient
to prevent osteoporosis if the body is unable to use it. Vitamin
D is required for the absorption of calcium from the gut. Vitamin
D is responsible for maintaining a balance between calcium and phosphorus
which supports bone formation. Vitamin D3 is synthesized in the
skin in response to sunlight. Since most people do not get enough
sunlight exposure, it is necessary to take a supplement that contains
vitamin D3.
At this time, John Jacob Cannell, MD, Executive Director of the
Vitamin D Council, advises even healthy people (those without the
diseases of vitamin D deficiency) to seek a knowledgeable physician
and have your 25(OH)D level measured. If your levels are below 50
ng/mL you need enough sun, artificial light, oral vitamin D3 supplements,
or some combination of the three, to maintain your 25(OH)D levels
between 50–80 ng/mL year-round.
If you can't find a knowledgeable physician, purchase the 1000
IU/day vitamin D3 cholecalciferol pills that are available over-the-counter
in North America or a 5,000 IU capsule from BIO-TECH. Take an average
of 5,000 IU) a day, year-round, if you have some sun exposure. If
you have little, or no, sun exposure you will need to take at least
5,000 IU per day. How much more depends on your latitude of residence,
skin pigmentation, and body weight.
Adult women should begin concentrating on bone health once their
hormone levels begin to drop. Since hormone deficiency is a risk
factor, it is important to take measures to prevent bone loss before
it leads to fractures. Hormone replacement after menopause has been
shown to increase bone mass and prevent excessive bone loss.
Women or men concerned that they are at risk for developing osteoporosis
can take a multi-vitamin, called Gynofem™,
specially formulated to support bone health. Clinical studies have
shown that GynoFem™ has a significant impact on preventing
and reversing post menopausal bone loss and the effect on increasing
bone density is not temporary but long term and lasting.
Another supplement marketed for osteoporosis prevention is BONEhealth™.
A daily dose of BONEhealth™ contains 1250 mg of eggshell calcium,
450 mg of magnesium, and 600 IU of vitamin D. To order either of
these products please visit the online store at www.bellevuerx.com.
There is no one way to prevent osteoporosis. The key to good health
is to begin prevention measures early. Weight-bearing exercise,
avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can lower the
risk of developing osteoporosis for those already at risk. It may
also be necessary to add a multi-vitamin or calcium supplement if
your dietary intake is not adequate. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
about the proper screening measures if you think you are at risk
for osteoporosis.
References:
1. www.nlm.nih.gov
2. www.nof.org
3. www.vivo.colostate.edu
4. www.webmd.com
5. http://ods.ods.nih.gov
For questions and further information, contact Bellevue
Pharmacy.

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