By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT OSTEOPOROSIS

Question: My mother was recently diagnosed with early osteoporosis. She is only 52. I have just turned 20, and I would like to know about osteoporosis. Will I get it -- my mother and I are built alike. Is it too soon to start worrying about this problem? Should I talk to my brothers about this? Will they get osteoporosis? What can we do to prevent this?

Answer: Normally bones are very solid, but in osteoporosis they become “porous,” or less dense. It’s a gradual process that begins with a mild thinning of the bones called osteopenia. This occurs when the rate of new bone formation is not enough to offset the normal rate of bone loss.

The risk of osteoporosis increases as we age, with more than 40 million Americans over the age of 50 affected by it. During the aging process, our bones go through a cycle. They become denser as we age until sometime in our mid-20s. Then, for a period of about 10 years, the bone density is stable. After that, the density begins to decline at about a half to 1 percent per year. This rate of bone loss increases with age to a point where by 80 years of age, 90 percent of women and 50 percent of men have osteoporosis.

Men generally have higher bone density than women, and African Americans have higher bone density than European Americans or Asian Americans. Osteoporosis also tends to run in families, and there are environmental and cultural factors as well. Within any given racial or ethnic group, older women have about twice the osteoporosis risk compared to older men.

Since our bone mass is developed before age 25, building strong bones at an early age is crucial. All children, teens and young adults should get enough calcium through dairy products and other dietary sources such as salmon, sardines, figs, dates, oranges, pinto beans, broccoli and kale. Tofu processed with calcium salts is also a good source of calcium.

We also need adequate amounts of Vitamin D to help the calcium get absorbed in the intestinal tract. Sunlight allows the skin to produce Vitamin D, but in northern areas, you can become vitamin D deficient in the winter.

Sometimes calcium and vitamin D supplements can be helpful. The amount is dependent on age, so check with your doctor for the correct dosage.

Lifestyle adjustments can reduce your risk from osteoporosis. Here are a few tips to help: avoid smoking, get plenty of weight-bearing exercise every day, eat a diet rich in calcium, and use alcohol only in moderation.

After menopause, the rate of bone loss increases. Other medical conditions like hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, malabsorption syndromes like celiac disease, chronic liver disease, loss of mobility, and many medications contribute to the development of osteoporosis.

There are medications now that treat osteoporosis and help slow the rate of bone density loss. There are more on the horizon. Unfortunately, a person with osteoporosis usually has no symptoms until a bone is broken. That’s why it’s important to get screened for osteoporosis so that medications and other interventions can be started early. Since your mother has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, I’d recommend that you see your doctor now and ask about osteoporosis screening. It’s never too early to begin trying to prevent osteoporosis.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701, or via e-mail to readerquestions@familymedicinenews.org. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnose and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at www.familymedicinenews.org.