Calcium does a body good.

As we go through life, bone is constantly rebuilding itself. Resorption is a process of breaking bone down and remodeling is the process of rebuilding bone. When we are young, these processes are balanced and bones remain strong and healthy. Later, however, remodeling (build up) falls behind resorption (break down) and bones become thinner. When bones become sufficiently thin, it is called osteoporosis (commonly known as bone thinning). The bones most likely affected are the spine, hips and wrists.

Osteoporosis is often called the "silent disease" because it creeps up without symptoms. A person may finally find out they have osteoporosis when they fall and break a hip or wrist or when they suddenly have back pain. People may also form a hump in their spine called a "dawager's hump." Osteoporosis is a significant cause of bone fracture among older women, most who are likely to be unaware they even have thinning bones.

A recent study investigated the occurrence of low bone mineral density (BMD) in 200,160 postmenopausal women who had no previous diagnosis of osteoporosis. Subjects were selected from thousands of primary care practices across the country. The BMD was measured through a peripheral bone densitometry attained at the heel, forearm, or finger. The women also filled out a questionnaire to assess the risk factors for low BMD. The results represented that 39.6% had osteopenia, 7.2% hadosteoporosis, and all of the women were unaware of these conditions.

Factors that increase risk of osteoporosis:

• Smoking
• Hispanic background
• cortisone use
• Menopause

Factors decreasing risk of osteoporosis:

• African American background
• exercise
• moderate alcohol consumption

While a certain amount of bone loss seems inevitable with the passage of time, the process is not entirely beyond our control. Dietary and lifestyle measures can, to some degree, help maintain bone health. Poor nutrition and other health habits such as smoking, alcohol abuse, and physical inactivity contribute to bone loss. Exercise, especially through activities like walking that put pressure on the weight-bearing bones, stimulates bone remodeling.

Calcium has received much attention for its role in supporting bone health in postmenopausal women. Research suggests that calcium can slow, but not completely stop, the progression of osteoporosis. Calcium's importance for maintaining strong, healthy bones and slowing bone loss cannot be overstated. Studies have suggested that during perimenopause, calcium absorption decreases and thus calcium supplements are a prudent dietary measure during menopause. Read an informational pamphlet about a premium bone health supplement

New Information: You might have read about some nutrition studies recently in the newspaper. I am posting this information in hopes it will help clarify the issues brought up by the studies. The following information was put out by Dr.Jamie McManus, Chairman, Medical Affairs, Health Sciences & Education, Shaklee Corporation.

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study on calcium and vitamin D was published last week, with the lead investigator on the study leading his interviews with the most negative findings of the study and seemingly ignoring the positive results. While the study is not flawed, there are two factors that affected the ultimate findings. One, the population was too young to demonstrate a reduction in hip fractures and two, the study did not last long enough to show the reduction in colon cancer risk (study was 7 years and colon cancer takes 10-20 years to materialize). The study did show a significant increase in hip bone density (this is good!) and also a non-significant (but present) reduction in hip fracture risk. So, again, this is a limited study and does not lessen the importance of Vitamin D as well as calcium in supporting bone health, reducing risk of hip fracture (other studies have shown this-future studies can continue to define) as well as in the myriad of other functional roles these essential nutrints play in the body. It is well established that people do not take in adequate amounts of calcium, and there is growing concern that many populations, especially the elderly and those who live in northern latitudes are deficient in Vitamin D.

Exposure to sunlight is helpful. Vitamin D is known as the "sunshine" vitamin because it is formed in the body by the action of the sun's ultraviolet rays on the skin. Sunlight forms vitamin D in the skin, vitamin D in turn increases calcium absorption. The fat-soluble vitamin is converted in the kidneys to the hormone calcitrol, which is actually the most active form of vitamin D. The effects of this hormone are targeted at the intestines and bones. In addition, a recent study discovered that a low vitamin D status was associated with an increased risk of first time falls. The authors concluded that, “A low level of serum vitamin D is an independent predictor of incident falls.

Vitamin K is essential for bone formation. The body requires vitamin K to produce a protein that binds calcium to bone.

Today, vitamin K deficiency is rare, except in infants, for whom such a deficiency can be fatal. The best sources of vitamin K are liver, green leafy vegetables and members of the cabbage family. Since vitamin K is produced by bacteria in the intestines, humans are not dependent upon diet for this nutrient. Recent research indicates that vitamin K deficiency contributes to osteoporosis, while supplementation may help prevent or reverse bone loss. One study of women with osteoporosis found they had 74 percent less vitamin K than normal.

In the October Journal of Nutrition, researchers reviewed the relationship between vitamin K and bone health. The review reported that there are many human studies that clearly establish that vitamin K can improve bone health. Vitamin K apparently increases bone density in osteoporosis patients, as well as reduces the fracture rates. There is also evidence that vitamin K and vitamin D work synergistically on bone density. In most of these studies however, high doses of vitamin K were administered, a practice that has been criticized by other researchers. On the other hand, there have been positive studies on bone health that use low doses of vitamin K, especially when taken along with vitamin D. Growing evidence illustrates that this vitamin positively affects calcium balance, which is important in bone metabolism. The Institute of Medicine recently increased the daily dietary recommendations of vitamin K by approximately 50%.

Menopause and Osteoporosis

During menopause, it is important for a woman to recognize the health risks that are associated with a decline in estrogen. It is at this time that there is an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and for osteoporosis. Awareness of these risk factors gives a woman the opportunity to manage her health effectively by choosing lifestyle patterns that promote and maintain health. Menopause is not a time to be dreaded, nor a time to think that an active and full life will be compromised. It is a time to celebrate the natural cycles of a woman's life, and a time develop lifestyle habits that will provide support for the years to come.

A recent study involving 83 healthy postmenopausal women, examined the health benefits of exercise. Of these women, 50 were assigned to an intense workout for 26 months, and the rest served as the control group. Both groups received a vitamin D and calcium supplement. The exercise group participated in two group workout sessions weekly as well as two sessions at home.

After the 26 months positive changes were seen in physical fitness, bone mineral density, and cholesterol levels in the exercise group. In addition, those in the exercise group also reported less back pain. The authors of this group concluded that, “General purpose exercise programs with special emphasis on bone density can significantly improve strength and endurance and reduce bone loss, back pain, and lipid levels in osteopenic women in their critical early postmenopausal years.”

Read an informational pamphlet about this premium bone health supplement

State-of-the-art Bone-Building Calcium/Mineral Formulation!

*

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.