Osteoporosis is generally considered a disease of post-menopausal women. Osteoporosis is defined as reduction of bone mass without alteration in the composition of bone, leading to fractures. Primary osteoporosis can be of two major types: postmenopausal osteoporosis (OSTEOPOROSIS, POSTMENOPAUSAL) and age-related or senile osteoporosis. Additionally, mortality is also increased as a result of hip fractures. Osteoporosis is important not only to quality of life, and untimely death; but associated costs of care, which are increased.
Therefore, studies which analyze causes of osteoporosis are significant.
Results of a recent study which indicated bone loss and weight loss were related were important to share. When obese pre-menopausal women are compared to women of normal weight; they generally have less bone loss. This is attributed to more weight bearing which stimulates bone cell production, more fat cells with more estrogen deposition possible, and more calcium intake due to a higher caloric intake over all. In this study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, women who were losing weight were observed. One group was given additional calcium supplements (1 to 1.8 gms per day). The other groups was not given anything other than their normal dietary intake.
Results indicated that women who did have additional calcium did not lose bone mass. This fact is important to share with all dieting women; whether pre or post menopausal.
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