Osteoporosis is a condition in which normally
dense bone tissue has become less dense,
showing holes and spaces. This happens
when the build up of bone is not keeping up
with the breakdown, and the bone’s protein
structure and mineral content are lost.
Osteoporosis is estimated to affect more than
25 million people in the U.S. More than 1.3
million fractures annually are attributed to
osteoporosis. Contrary to popular wisdom,
lack of calcium is not the only cause of
osteoporosis. Additional factors contributing
to poor bone health include but are not
limited to: low estrogen levels, poor
absorption of vitamins / minerals and lower
secretion of calcitonin (the hormone that
prevents calcium from leaving bone) related
to aging, endocrine gland disorders involving
the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands,
lack of physical activity and bed rest,
malnutrition and high acidity from typical
American diet, disease of the liver,
gastrointestinal tract and kidneys, smoking,
alcohol, caffeine and lastly pharmacological
drugs. While calcium is important other
vitamin and minerals are needed for proper
assimilation and absorption for optimal bone
health. These include protein, vitamin C, D
and K, magnesium, boron, zinc, copper
silicon, B6 and folic acid. Interestingly, bone
does not fracture due to
thinness alone; that is,
osteoporosis by itself does
not cause bone fractures.
We now know that
diminished self repair
abilities are also a significant
component. Dr. Melton of
the Mayo clinic notes,
“Osteoporosis alone may not be sufficient to
produce such (osteoporotic) fracture, since
many individuals remain fracture free even
with in the subgroups of lowest bone density.”
This is further substantiated by the fact that
older folks in many other cultures, ranging
from France and Germany to China and Japan
have lower bone densities than we do yet
suffer far fewer osteoporotic fractures. The
new osteoporosis fracture equation is as
follows: Thin Osteoporotic Bone + Poor Bone
Self Repair = Osteoporotic Fracture. Susan
Brown PhD and Director of the Osteoporosis
Education Project identifies seven key
intervention areas: maximize nutrients,
minimize antinutrients, build digestive
strength, develop an Alkaline Diet, appropriate
bone building exercise, promote endocrine
health and use alternatives to estrogen
therapy. Check out her book “Better Bones,
Better Body; Beyond Estrogen and Calcium.”
Get Strong! Stay Strong!
Chris
Filed under: Nutrition Tidbits, Sports Medicine, physical therapy | Tagged: bone, low estrogen, nutrition, osteoporosis, vitamins and minerals
Calcium is arguably the most important nutrient in your body. As the most abundant mineral it has several important functions. More than 99% of your calcium is stored in your bones and teeth where it supports their structure and is ready to be called into action for many other critical functions.1 A few of these calcium functions are muscle contraction, blood vessel contraction and expansion, the secretion of hormones and enzymes, and sending messages through the nervous system.2 The amount of calcium in your body fluid and tissues is closely regulated so that these vital body processes function efficiently.
While calcium is important a number of other vitamins and minerals are crucial for the calcium to be absorbed. These would include but not limited to magnesium, phosphorous and vitamin D. The correct ratios are another factor. So even though many are taking in calcium much of it may not be getting absorbed. So, you are not what you eat, but what you absorb. Eating whole foods also increases your absorption rates.
Chris