$Unique_ID{BRK01613}
$Pretitle{Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue}
$Title{The Use of Calcium to Prevent Osteoporosis}
$Subject{osteoporosis calcium}
$Volume{M-26}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


The Use of Calcium to Prevent Osteoporosis


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QUESTION:  Recent newspaper articles have confused me somewhat about the use
of calcium to prevent osteoporosis.  Should I continue to take these pills to
help fight that possibility?

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ANSWER:  To answer your question perhaps too simply--yes--studies have long
indicated the usefulness of calcium supplements in the treatment of
osteoporosis.  But their ability to stop bone loss or help increase bone mass
depends a great deal on life-style.  This means eating an adequate and
nutritious diet and participating in a regular program of exercise.  Exercise
not only affects bone remodeling by stimulating the release of growth hormones
but exercisers burn more calories, take in more nutrients, and absorb more
calcium.  The reverse is true of habitual inactivity, which in itself leads to
a loss of bone which no amount of added calcium can prevent.
     As you may already know, osteoporosis is a loss of bone tissue which
leaves the bones porous, brittle, and subject to easy breakage.  What you
might not know is how difficult it is to predict who will (or will not)
develop this symptomless disorder, since the causes are many and not just a
natural result of old age.  In fact, the first real indication, sometimes the
only one, is the presence of an insufficiency fracture--a break in a bone that
occurs for no apparent reason.  Most frequently these fractures occur at the
spine and later in life at the hip, but other skeletal parts can be involved
as well.
     According to the best available estimates, people who have a low bone
mineral content are at the greatest risk.  This group includes the elderly,
diabetics, smokers, alcoholics, patients who have an estrogen deficiency of
any cause, those undergoing cortisone therapy, or individuals with a strong
family history of osteoporosis.  If you fit this profile in any way, your
doctor will probably consider taking bone mineral measurements at regular
intervals to see how you are getting along.
     The two most promising techniques available to detect low amounts of bone
mineral (before irreversible damage occurs) are quantitative computed
tomography (QCT) and photon absorptiometry, both of which are effective tests
to show bone density.  These tests, by measuring mass, can not only determine
the amount of loss, but also reveal weak areas where breaks are likely to
happen.
     Should structural changes be severe, your doctor may order a biopsy to
rule out a malignancy of the bone marrow, as well as take steps to see if
there are any vitamin deficiencies or endocrine, kidney, or liver problems
which might be causing the bone loss.  In circumstances where mineral content
is low but within a normal range, changes in life-style and a readily usable
form of calcium (such as is provided in many calcium supplements) will be part
of the recommended course of treatment.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
