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What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, which means "porous bones,"
is a condition characterised by a fragile skeleton and weak brittle bones
that break easily. The causes of osteoporosis are a combination of genetic,
dietary, hormonal, age-related, and lifestyle factors. Osteoporosis, which
is much more common in women, usually progresses painlessly until a bone
fracture occurs, which is usually in the hip, spine, or wrist.
Who is affected?
- Overall, approximately eight million American women and 2 million
men have osteoporosis.
- In the UK, it already affects 1 in 3 women over the age of 60 and
1 in 2 over 70, and more women die from complications following hip-fractures
than from major female cancers.
- Women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis
because of the loss of estrogen at menopause. (Estrogen blocks or slows
down bone loss.)
- Over half of all women over the age of 65 have osteoporosis.
- Even though osteoporosis is often thought of as a disease that only
affects older people, it can strike at any age.
- Osteoporosis leads to 1.5 million fractures, or breaks, per year,
mostly in the hip, spine and wrist, and costs $14 billion annually.
- One in two women over the age of 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related
fracture.
What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?
Factors that can increase your chances of developing osteoporosis include:
- Being female
- Having a small, thin body frame
- A family history of osteoporosis
- Being post-menopausal or of advanced
age
- Being Caucasian or Asian
- Abnormal absence of menstrual periods
- Anorexia nervosa or bulimia
- Low testosterone levels in men
- Lack of calcium and vitamin D
- Inactive lifestyle
- Long-term use of glucocorticoids (medications
prescribed for many diseases, including arthritis, asthma, and lupus)
anti-seizure medications; gonadotropin releasing hormone for treatment
of endometriosis; aluminum-containing antacids; certain cancer treatments;
and excessive thyroid hormone
- Cigarette smoking
- Excessive use of alcohol and high salt,
protein, and caffeine intake
What is pregnancy-associated osteoporosis?
Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis is believed to be a rare condition
that is usually found in the third trimester or postpartum period. It
usually occurs during the first pregnancy, is temporary, and does not
recur. Women affected usually complain of back pain, have a loss of height,
and have vertebral fractures. Researchers do not know if this condition
occurs as a result of pregnancy or because of pre-existing conditions
in a pregnant woman. Factors that may cause this condition, such as genetic
factors or steroid use, are being studied. Even though there is stress
on a pregnant woman’s calcium supply and calcium excretion is increased
by frequent urination, other changes during pregnancy, like increases
in oestrogen and weight gain, may actually help bone density.
There is much more to be learned about how a woman’s bone density is affected
by pregnancy.
Will I suffer bone loss during breastfeeding?
Although significant amounts of bone mineral can be lost during breastfeeding,
this loss tends to be temporary. Studies consistently have shown that
when women have bone loss during lactation, they recover full bone density
within six months after weaning.
How do I know if I have osteoporosis?
A family medical history and bone mass measurements are part of a complete
assessment. Often a bone fracture is the first sign of osteoporosis. Ask
your doctor to help you better understand your own risk and become aware
of prevention and treatment options.
Bone density tests
Routine x-rays can't detect osteoporosis until it's quite advanced, but
other radiological methods can. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has approved several kinds of devices to estimate bone density. Most require
far less radiation than a chest x-ray. Doctors consider a patient's medical
history and risk factors in deciding who should have a bone density test.
Readings are compared to a standard for the patient's age, gender and
body size. Different parts of the skeleton may be measured, and low density
at any site is worrisome. Bone density tests are useful for confirming
a diagnosis of osteoporosis if a person has already had a suspicious fracture,
or for detecting low bone density so that preventive steps can be taken.
How can I protect myself from having osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is usually preventable. Females need to take steps to protect
the health of their bones while they are still children, and on through
their teenage and young adult years. Building strong bones at a young
age will lessen the effect of the natural bone loss that begins to occur
around age 30.
- Eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin
D, such as low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, fish with edible bones like
salmon and sardines, and dark green, leafy vegetables, like kale and
broccoli.
- Do weight-bearing exercise, such as
walking, jogging, hiking, playing tennis, and stair climbing. Exercise
builds bone and muscle strength and helps prevent bone loss and improves
coordination to prevent falls. It also helps older people stay active
and mobile. Weight-bearing exercises, done on a regular basis, are best
for preventing osteoporosis. Always check with your doctor before starting
an exercise program.
- If you are postmenopausal, consider
estrogen replacement.
- Consider using calcium supplements,
but discuss the choice of supplements with your doctor first.
- Don't smoke.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.
What is the optimal calcium intake
for
women in different stages of their life?
Diet, hormones, drugs, age and genetic factors all influence the amount
of calcium required for optimal skeletal health. Recommendations vary
slightly. Based upon recent recommendations from the National Academy
of Sciences, the following amounts are recommended for these different
age groups:
Recommended Daily Intake of Calcium for Women
| Age |
Milligrams per
day of calcium |
| 9 - 18 |
1300 |
| 19 - 50 |
1000 |
| Age 51 and older |
1200** |
**Note: The National Institutes of
Health Consensus Conference and The National Osteoporosis Foundation
support a higher calcium intake of 1,500 milligrams per day for postmenopausal
women not taking estrogen and adults 65 years or older.
See: Calcium
in Dairy Foods and Calcium
in Lactose-Free Non-Dairy Foods
The guidelines are based on calcium received through diet and through
calcium supplements. Calcium intake up to 2,000 mg/day appears to be safe
in most individuals. Adequate Vitamin D is essential for optimal calcium
absorption. Most people receive enough Vitamin D through sunlight. You
can also get this vitamin from supplements, as well as from cereal and
milk fortified with Vitamin D. If supplements are necessary, no more than
800 International Units (IU) mg/day is recommended.
How is osteoporosis treated?
Lifestyle changes and medical treatment are part of a total program to
prevent future fractures. A diet rich in calcium, daily exercise, and
drug therapy are treatment options. Good posture and prevention of falls
are important in reducing the chance of being injured.
Drug therapy
Under FDA guidelines, drugs to treat osteoporosis must be shown to preserve
or increase bone mass and maintain bone quality in order to reduce the
risk of fractures. The following drugs are approved by the FDA for the
treatment or prevention of osteoporosis:
Estrogen
Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) is approved for both prevention and
treatment of osteoporosis. It reduces bone loss, increases bone density
in the spine and hip, and reduces the risk of fractures in postmenopausal
women. Doctors prescribe ERT in combination with the hormone progestin
(called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) to reduce the risk of developing
cancer in the lining of the uterus. HRT has shown to be effective at reducing
the symptoms of menopause and having beneficial effects on both the skeleton
and heart.
Alendronate (Fosamax®)
This drug belongs to a class of drugs called biophosphonates and is approved
for both prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. It is used to treat
bone loss from the long-term use of osteoporosis-causing medications and
is used for osteoporosis in men. In postmenopausal women, it has shown
to be effective at reducing bone loss, increasing bone density in the
spine and hip, and reducing the risk of spine and hip fractures.
Risedronate (Actonel®)
Like Alendronate, this drug also is a biophosphonate and is approved
for both prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, for bone loss from
the long-term use of osteoporosis-causing medications, and for osteoporosis
in men. It has been shown to slow bone loss, increase bone density, and
reduce the risk of spine and non-spine fractures.
Calcitonin (Miacalcin®)
Calcitonin is a naturally occurring hormone involved in calcium regulation
and bone metabolism. Calcitonin can be injected or taken as a nasal spray.
In women who are at least five years beyond menopause, it slows bone loss
and increases spinal bone density. Women report that it also eases pain
associated with bone fractures.
Raloxifene (Evista®)
This drug is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that has many
estrogen-like properties. It is approved for prevention and treatment
of osteoporosis and can prevent bone loss at the spine, hip, and other
areas of the body. Studies have shown that it can decrease the rate of
vertebral fractures by 30-50%.
Other treatments are being studied. They include new biophosphonates and
SERMs, Vitamin D metabolites, parathyroid hormone, and sodium fluoride.
Risks versus benefits
A woman and her doctor need to carefully weigh the risks and benefits
of these treatment options.
Source: The National Women's Health Information
Center.
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