About 44 million American men and women suffer from osteoporosis
(severe bone loss) or osteopenia (mild bone loss), with women being
affected twice as much as men. Each year, at least 1.5 million hip,
vertebra, or wrist fractures occur in the United States because of
osteoporosis. Although bone mass normally declines after age
thirty-five, bone loss that is severe enough to cause fractures after
only a minor trauma is a different problem.
Some of the risk factors for osteoporosis include: small body frame,
underweight, Caucasian or Asian race, a sedentary lifestyle, cigarette
smoking, excessive alcohol or caffeine intake, high intake of
carbonated beverages, and having other family member with osteoporosis.
Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, celiac disease,
hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive lung
disease, hyperadrenalism, and hyperparathyroidism are also associated
with an increased risk of osteoporosis. There are also some medications
that increase the rate of bone loss such as those prescribed for
seizures and blood thinning, prednisone and other steroids,
aluminum-containing antacids, and loop diuretics. By engaging in
regular weight bearing exercise, avoiding excessive consumption of
alcohol and caffeine, and quitting smoking, the rate of bone loss will
be slowed. Eating adequate amounts of protein and supplementing with
various vitamins and minerals also enhances bone health.
Calcium salts are absorbed about the same for most people, absorbing
between thirty to forty percent of the administered dose. Those with
low stomach acid, hypochlorhydria, should not use calcium carbonate
because it is absorbed poorly without stomach acid. For many older
people, calcium phosphate is preferable because phosphorus is necessary
for normal bone formation. Calcium that is bound to phosphorus is the
form in which calcium is stored in the bone, and has a much greater
bone activity than other forms.
In order to promote strong bones, vitamin D is a necessary nutrient.
Because vitamin D is produced when ultraviolet rays from the sun hit
the skin, those people who stay out of the sun, wear sunscreen, or live
in a northern latitude are at an increased risk of vitamin D
deficiency. Aging also decreases a person |
