Osteoporosis

As we age our bones become softer, more brittle and more prone to fracture, a condition called osteoporosis. At present osteoporosis is a preventable disease, and women especially should be taking steps to prevent osteoporosis from the mid thirties and if at risk have tests for osteoporosis from age 50 on.

Risk factors for osteoporosis:

Family History of Osteoporosis

Northern European or Asian Race

Fine boned or “petite” skeleton

Early menopause or surgical menopause & early Andropause for males

Low dietary calcium, magnesium or boron

Vitamin D deficiency

Testing for Osteoporosis.

Testing for osteoporosis in females with risk factors should start at age 50. The Australian Government in its wisdom does not subsidise tests for osteoporosis unless you have already broken a bone with minimal trauma involved; this is of course too late to start prevention. Bone mineral density tests are the standard test and in 2003 cost about $90. There is also a urine test called DpD (deoxypyridinoline) which measures this metabolite of bone resorption. The higher the DpD the higher the rate of osteoporosis.

While BMD can be performed every 2 years, DpD rates can be used more often to monitor progress of treatments for osteoporosis.

Preventing Osteoporosis

All of us whether we have high risk factors or not should take steps to slow osteoporosis, which is a universal process in the aging human – though much faster in some of us than others.

Basic osteoporosis prevention consists of:

Regular weight bearing exercise such as walking
Adequate Vitamin D intake Vitamin D deficiency is becoming more common in Australia as we are told to avoid the sun, especially in the elderly.
Adequate dietary minerals NOT ONLY calcium but also 200mg of magnesium and 6mg of boron per day. This may well mean mineral supplements for many of us.

Treatment of Osteoporosis.

If we have osteoporosis or osteopaenia (mild osteoporosis) effective treatments are available. The most effective of these are the residronates Actonel & Fosamax, Evista which is in effect an anti-oestrogen, and HRT with natural oestrogen or more effectively natural testosterone, progesterone & DHEA.

All of these treatments are available at Royston Clinic, and we also stock supplements containing calcium, magnesium, boron and vitamin D.