Osteoporosis and Bone Health

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become fragile and brittle due to the degeneration of the structures that give our bones support and strength. Osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures and falls. It is estimated that one in two women, and one in three men will develop osteoporosis during their lifetime. As we age, the risk of osteoporosis is multiplied. Osteoporosis is a serious health concern. A simple fracture can mean loss of mobility, long-term disability, loss of independence and even death.

Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis, however the most common sites are: hip, spine, wrist, ribs, pelvis and upper arm. Osteoporosis is termed a “silent disease” because there are usually no signs of osteoporosis until a fracture occurs. The onset, however, may be delayed by reducing or eliminating factors which enhance its development.

Risk Factors

Osteoporosis occurs most frequently in individuals with the following risk factors

· Age: Osteoporosis increase significantly with age

· Post Menopause: particularly in Caucasian and Asian women

· Loss of bone density or failure to achieve normal bone density during adolescence

· Low estrogen levels

· Amenorrhea (loss of normal menstruation)

· Early menopause (before 45 years)

· Hysterectomy (removal of the ovaries)

Prevent osteoporosis

Increase Calcium intake

Calcium regulates many of the chemical reactions and processes that are vital for our body to function. The recommended daily intake of calcium is 1000mg.  An average serve of dairy contains 300mg of calcium (eg. 1 glass of skim milk, or 2 pieces of cheese). Therefore, approximately 3-4 serves of dairy per day is the recommended daily requirement. Additional sources of dietary calcium include:

· One cup of plain yoghurt (400 mg)

· 1/4 cup almonds (90mg)

· One cup of cooked beans (100 mg)

· 90g of sardines (375 mg)

· 1/2 cup of cooked broccoli

If you are unable to tolerate dairy foods, consult your GP or dietitian for advice on calcium supplementation.

Magnesium

Magnesium provides structure for bones. It is also needed to help the absorption of  calcium in the tissues. Magnesium is therefore an important mineral that aids in osteoporosis prevention. Sufficient amounts of magnesium can be found in:

· Nuts, especially almonds and cashews

· Whole grains such as brown rice, buckwheat and rye

· Green vegetables

· Bananas

· Seafood

· Legumes, lentils and split beans

Vitamin D

Vitamin D, like magnesium, helps the body absorb calcium. It is found in milk, butter, liver and oily fish. In addition, moderate levels of sunlight cause Vitamin D to be formed in our skin.

Exercise

Being active increases bone strength, muscle strength, improves peak muscle mass and assists with posture and balance. It is important to perform weight bearing activities which are performed in the standing position and involve loads (forces) being placed through the feet and transmitted up the leg bones and spine. Examples  of weight bearing activities include walking, running, tennis, a light weights program or even aerobics.

The good news is that the majority of bone is formed before the age of 21, which for most of us, is the time we are most active. After the age of 35 we start to lose approximately 1% of our bone density every year. 

Another important time to remember your bone’s health is in the years immediately proceeding menopause.  During these years, there can be a drop in estrogen levels that can lead to a fall in bone mineral density.

What else can I do?

Quit Smoking

Smoking reduces the bodies ability to absorb nutrients (this includes calcium). It also reduces estrogen levels. Therefore women who smoke have lower levels of estrogen and absorb less calcium from their diets.

Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine

Alcohol in excess can decrease the absorption of calcium in the intestines. Limit alcohol to 2 or less standard drinks a day, and no more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion.

Caffeine is a diuretic and can also cause higher excretion levels of calcium from the body. Therefore limit caffeine to less than 300mg per day.

Get Regular Bone Density Checks

Check the density of your bones throughout your life. You can therefore monitor the changes in your bones density and the level of your risk of osteoporosis.

 

Why Do We Need to Test Bone Density?

Dexa Scan

It is important to test bone density to ensure that the strength and structure of our bone is not compromised.  A simple scan can evaluate the risk of developing bone related diseases such as osteoporosis, or  discover if you are already showing signs of degeneration. The best way to test bone density is through a DEXA scan. DEXA stands for “Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry”

The test is non-invasive and completely pain free and will provide you and your doctor with the information needed to make a suitable plan for future bone health.

QFracture Score

Researchers from the BMJ (British Medical Journal)  have recently developed and validated two new algorithms' that predict the risk of osteoporotic fracture in primary care populations without the need for laboratory measurements. The fracture risk algorithms (QFractureScores)  provide a means of estimating the individual future risk of osteoporotic or hip fracture over 10 years (www.qfracture.org). Please discuss with your GP for further information.

 

Calcium needs

The National Health and Medical Research Council

recommend the following daily intake of calcium:

For more information

Wesley Corporate Health

Level 2 / 46 Edward Street

Brisbane  Qld  4000

Phone:  07 3234 2600

Email: info@weshealth.com.au

QLD Osteoporosis Society  07 3831 4183

Disclaimer

This Fact Sheet is provided for your information only and does not replace qualified medical advice. The information provided may not apply to every person or all situations. A medical practitioner should be consulted for all treatment and medication.