Although many Americans suffer from the chronic disease known as Osteoporosis, the fact of the matter is over 80% of those diagnosed are women. There are several types of osteoporosis, the most common is called postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Because women’s estrogen levels drop around the time of menopause, bone density is affected. Usually women between the ages of 50 to 75 are most affected. However, bone density loss can occur earlier or later. Studies show that women can lose up to 20% of their bone density and bone mass within the first 5-7 years following menopause.

The Cost of Osteoporosis

This disease takes a great toll on the body. Many women suffer with chronic pain and this disease accounts for over 1.5 million fractures each year; the majority of fractures involve the vertebrae or spine area. Many times death can even be associated with this disease. Approximately 24% of all people over the age of 50 who fracture their hip will die within one year.

Some Great Soy Results

In a study, at the Shanghai Women’s Health Study, of 75,000 Chinese women aged 40 to 70, scientists concluded that higher intakes of soy protein was associated with lower risk of fracture. More specifically, women who were given two cups of soymilk per day for the first ten years following menopause saw an even better reduction in bone density loss and fractures.

Other Asian studies have generally shown that soy intake is positively associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD). Currently the US government is conducting their own studies regarding the affects of soy intake on bone density and skeletal make-up.

The Role of Isoflavones

Although some soybeans and soy products do contain calcium, the concentration has been focused on the estrogen-like substance called isoflavones found in soybeans. Isoflavone studies have concluded that Japanese women eating a higher amount of isoflavones than their counterparts have higher bone density rates. Not only do isoflavones reduce the common lowering of bone density in post-menopausal women, but they also build bone mass.

In 2000, the nonprofit organization known as North American Menopause Society (NAMS) issued a consensus on the matter of soy products and its health benefits to women. The statement addressed the potential benefits of isoflavones on conditions associated with menopause. The society reported the following quantities and amounts of isoflavones may have health benefits for postmenopausal women:

* 50 milligrams per day to reduce cholesterol

* 40 to 80 milligrams per day to strengthen blood vessels and improve blood pressure

* 50 milligrams per day for bone health

* 40 to 80 milligrams per day to reduce hot flashes and night sweats

For those of you wondering how much isoflavone is in your favorite soy products, please see the information below:

* 1 cup of soy milk has 40 milligrams of isoflavone

* 4 ounces of tofu have 40 milligrams of isoflavone

* Textured soy protein has 35 milligrams for every 1/2 cup

* Soy flour has 25 milligrams of isoflavone for every 1/2 cup

* Both 4 ounces of tempeh and 1/2 cup of miso have approximately 40 milligrams of isoflavone

So as you see, it doesn’t take a lot of soy to help those bones!



Thanks to Dee Overly for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:

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Can you answer luvhrlysnjager2’s question about Osteoporosis?:

There are hundreds of supplements I can take but I need one with vitamin D as that helps your body absorb the calcium. I would really like to know foods that are high in calcium. I have caught this early enough to prevent further damage and hope to do so.

Osteoporosis Spine Surgery

Can you answer Cows’s question about Osteoporosis?:

How can I prevent osteoporosis while I am a teenager?

Not only osteoperosis, but any other illness that generally develops during agin?

Drug Therapy For Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is accelerated bone loss. Normally, there is loss of bone mass with aging, perhaps 0.7% per year in adults. However, bone loss is greater in women past menopause than in men of the same age. The process of bone remodelling from resorption to matrix synthesis to mineralization normally takes about 8 months–a slow but constant process. Bone in older persons just isn’t as efficient as bone in younger persons at maintaining itself–there is decreased activity of osteoblasts and decreased production of growth factors and bone matrix.

Osteoporosis causes, diagnosis, symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and treatment. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken, become brittle and more easily breakable. The osteoporosis disease process can be silent (without symptoms) for decades. It’s a harse reality that the drugs we take to treat arthritis, especially the corticosteroids, also wreak havoc on our bones.

Osteoporosis occurs when the resorption causes the bones to reach a fracture threshold (the point at which they are likely to break when subjected to a modest stress, such as falling). A fall, blow or lifting action that would not normally bruise or strain the average person can easily break one or more bones in someone with severe osteoporosis.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Bone pain is seen less commonly than joint pain and muscle pain. The source of bone pain may be obvious, as in a fracture following an accident. Or it may be more subtle, such as cancer that spreads (metastasizes) to the bone.

Hip fractures typically occur as a result of a fall. With osteoporosis, hip fractures can occur as a result of trivial accidents. Hip fractures may also be difficult to heal after surgical repair because of poor bone quality.

An abnormally curved upper back, or dowager’s hump, develops when the bones of the upper spine (vertebrae) become thin and brittle (known as osteoporosis) and collapse on each other. Having collapsed vertebrae in any part of the spine results in a loss of height.

The appearance of the widow’s hump or a fractured wrist or hip from a fall may be the first actual symptoms of osteoporosis unless your doctor has been measuring your bone density. Men also should watch for a loss of height, change in posture or sudden back pain. There are a number of risk factors that increase a person’s likelihood of having osteoporosis.

Pain, disfigurement, and debilitation are common in the latter stages of the disease. Early spinal compression fractures may go undetected for a long time, but after a large percentage of calcium has been lost, the vertebrae in the spine start to collapse, gradually causing a stooped posture called kyphosis, or a “dowager’s hump.” Although this is usually painless, patients may lose as much as 6 inches in height.

Causes of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis occurs when an imbalance occurs between new bone formation and old bone resumption. The body may fail to form enough new bone, or too much old bone may be reabsorbed, or both.

The strength of your bones depends on their size and density; bone density depends in part on the amount of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals bones contain. When your bones contain fewer minerals than normal, they’re less strong and eventually lose their internal supporting structure.

The leading cause of osteoporosis is a lack of certain hormones, particularly estrogen in women and androgen in men. Women, especially those older than 60 years, are frequently diagnosed with the disease. Menopause brings lower estrogen levels and increases a woman’s risk for osteoporosis. Other factors that may contribute to bone loss in this age group include inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, lack of weight-bearing exercise, and other age-related changes in endocrine functions (in addition to lack of estrogen).



Thanks to Corwin Brown for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:

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Can you answer veggiegirl’s question about Osteoporosis?:

My grandma is always buying new mattresses because she wakes up hurting. We all think it’s just her osteoporosis. So, is there a mattress out there that can relieve the pressure and ease pain while still providing the necessary support. please provide all the details possible. thanks!
I’m hoping for answers from those who have family members with experience.

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