Can you answer Toria K’s question about Osteoporosis?:

I’m working for a lady who has osteopenia (a form of osteoporosis) and she wants to try some alternative methods of treatment. She’s also trying to find some sort of vitamin or supplement that would have calcium, vitamin D, Boron, Mangesium, and/or other components that help protect bone mass. If you know of any or can give any tips, please let me know!

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Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis often was thought to be a condition that frail elderly women develop. Osteoporosis leads to literally abnormally porous bone that is more compressible like a sponge, than dense like a brick. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone leading to an increase in the risk of breaking bones (bone fracture). A broken bone can really affect a woman’s life. It can cause disability, pain, or loss of independence. It can make it harder to do daily activities without help, such as walking. If you have osteoporosis, you have an increased risk for fractured bones (broken bones), particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist. In most cases, bones weaken when you have low levels of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals in your bones. The process of bone remodelling from resorption to matrix synthesis to mineralization normally takes about 8 months–a slow but constant process. The disease is “silent” because there are no symptoms when you have osteoporosis, and the condition may come to attention only after you break a bone. Osteoporosis can also accompany endocrine disorders or result from excessive use of drugs such as corticosteroids.

Osteoporosis can cause a person to stoop forward and appear to have a hump on his or her spine. The most serious and debilitating osteoporotic fracture is the hip fracture. The goal of treating osteoporosis is to prevent such fractures in the first place. People with osteoporosis most often break bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. Most hip fracture patients who previously lived independently will require help from their family or home care. In the United States, nearly 10 million people already have osteoporosis. Another 18 million people have low bone mass that places them at an increased risk for developing osteoporosis. Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. One out of every two women and one in four men over age 50 will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. Normal bone is composed of protein, collagen, and calcium. Bones that are affected by osteoporosis can fracture with only a minor fall or injury that normally would not cause a bone fracture.

Causes of Osteoporosis

The common causes and risk factor’s of Osteoporosis include the following:

Family history of osteoporosis.

Smoking.

Anorexia nervosa.

Lack of exercise or long-term bed rest can cause weak bones.

Small, thin women are at greater risk.

Certain medications eg steroids.

Drinking alcohol.

Lack of dietary calcium.

Inactive lifestyle.

Low testosterone levels in men.

Longer postmenopausal interval.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Some sign and symptoms related to Osteoporosis are as follows:

Back pain, which can be severe if you have a fractured or collapsed vertebra.

Broken bones.

Loss of height over time, with an accompanying stooped posture.

Dull pain in the bones or muscles.

Neck pain.

Treatment of Osteoporosis

Here is list of the methods for treating Osteoporosis:

A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.

Alendronate (Fosamax®): This drug belongs to a class of drugs called biophosphonates and is approved for both prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Exercise.

You may need quite strong pain killers (analgesics), for quite some time, in the event of an osteoporotic fracture.

A healthy lifestyle.

Biphosphonates: This type of medication is used to arrest the progress of osteoporosis and even reverse it. They encourage the laying down of calcium in the bones. One of these is also used when people have to be on long term steroids.

Calcitonin is another medication used to decrease bone loss.

Sodium fluoride can increase the measured bone density in vertebra, but seems to have no overall effectiveness in reducing vertebral fracture.



Thanks to Juliet Cohen for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:

Osteoporosis Tips

Can you answer Starving Billionaire’s question about Osteoporosis?:

I’m going on a Fruitarian diet for 3 months, just for weight loss. But I don’t want to lose any of my bone mass?

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A little exercise can go a long way in preventing osteoporosis, a crippling bone disease that affects 200 million people worldwide.

Medical experts say that exercising for at least one hour a day three times a week can keep the bones strong and prevent fractures of the hip and spine in women.

The best part is that you don’t have to spend a bundle or run a marathon to experience the benefits of exercise. You can stay in shape and prevent osteoporosis right in the comfort of your own home or neighborhood.

Osteoporosis or porous bones is a disease that affects primarily white and Asian women. After menopause, the ovaries stop producing the female hormone estrogen that affects the calcium content of bones. As the bones lose calcium, they become thin and brittle. Although men may also suffer from osteoporosis as they age, women are more vulnerable because they have less bone mass.

This silent disease may progress for years without any symptoms, leaving its victims susceptible to fractures of the hip, wrist and spine. Worldwide, osteoporosis causes over 1.6 million hip fractures every year. About 20 percent of these women die within a year from complications.

“One of the most crucial strategies for preventing osteoporosis is to start a lifelong exercise program. The reason is that the skeleton is responsive to mechanical load, the amount of force you use against your bones. The more mechanical load you apply, the more your bones increase in mass. The best way to ‘load up’ is to engage in activities, such as weight-bearing exercises, that use the body’s own weight as a force against gravity. These types of exercise stimulate bone-cell production,” according to the editors of “The Women’s Book of Home Remedies” published by Consumer Guide.

To improve bone strength and stimulate bone growth, exercises such as walking, cycling, tennis, aerobics or jogging are best. But before you start any exercise program, consult your doctor or a qualified physical therapist. In general, your routine should include aerobic exercise, stretching and strengthening workouts.

Regular exercise will help you lose weight, improve your looks, and increase your confidence. To enhance your exercise routine, take Phenocal, a safe, natural, and effective weight loss supplement that boosts your metabolism, suppresses your appetite, reduces food cravings, and increases energy levels to keep you in shape. Check out http://www.phenocal.com for more information.



Thanks to Janet Martin for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:

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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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