Breaking up: strong bones need more than calcium.Broken bones This article or section has multiple issues: * It does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by citing reliable sources. * It needs to be expanded. Please help [ improve the article] or discuss these issues on the talk page. don't end in childhood. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Surgeon General The U.S. Surgeon General is charged with the protection and advancement of health in the United States. Since the 1960s the surgeon general has become a highly visible federal public health official, speaking out against known health risks such as tobacco use, and promoting disease : * Four out of 10 white women age 50 or older will break a hip, spine, or wrist during their lives. * Nearly one in five hip fracture hip fracture Orthopedic surgery A femoral fracture which affects 1/6 white ♀–US during life Epidemiology 250,000/yr–US Specifics Proximal femur; 90+% femoral neck, intertrochanteric; 5-10% are subtrochanteric Risk factors Tall, thin ♀, patients ends up in a nursing home within a year. * By 2020, half of all Americans over age 50 will be at risk for fractures from weak bones. Roughly 10 million Americans over age 50 have osteoporosis osteoporosis (ŏs'tēō'pərō`sĭs), disorder in which the normal replenishment of old bone tissue is severely disrupted, resulting in weakened bones and increased risk of fracture; osteopenia . Another 34 million have osteopenia--bone density that's lower than normal, though not quite low enough to be called osteoporosis. "The bone health status of Americans appears to be in jeopardy, and left unchecked it is only going to get worse as the population ages," says the Surgeon General. How can you protect your bones? Many people know that they need to get enough calcium. Some also exercise and take vitamin D vitamin D Any of a group of fat-soluble alcohols important in calcium metabolism in animals to form strong bones and teeth and prevent rickets and osteoporosis. It is formed by ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) of sterols (see steroid) present in the skin. . But researchers now believe that you can do more. RELATED ARTICLE: Blame it on estrogen. As women go through menopause menopause (mĕn`əpôz) or climacteric (klīmăk`tərĭk, klī'măktĕr`ĭk) , most lose bone rapidly. Unless they take estrogen, the drop-off in hormone levels triggers a breakdown in bone. "It's the downward adjustment caused by estrogen loss," says Bess Dawson-Hughes of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Jean Mayer Jean Mayer (February 19, 1920 – January 1, 1993) was a renowned French-American nutritionist and the tenth president of Tufts University from 1976 to 1992. During his lifetime, Mayer was known as a leading expert and activist on hunger issues. Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University Tufts University, main campus at Medford, Mass.; coeducational; chartered 1852 by Universalists as a college for men. It became a university in 1955. Jackson College, formerly a coordinate undergraduate college for women, merged with the College of Liberal Arts in in Boston. A decline in estrogen also weakens bone in men as they age, though less dramatically. No one can avoid all the loss. "You can mitigate it, but you can't obliterate o·blit·er·ate v. 1. To remove an organ or another body part completely, as by surgery, disease, or radiation. 2. To blot out, especially through filling of a natural space by fibrosis or inflammation. it," says Dawson-Hughes. "People could maybe cut it by a third with calcium, vitamin D, and exercise." Can anything else help? "Many people know a lot about calcium and vitamin D, but we're finding a whole spectrum of other nutrients that protect bone," says Tufts researcher Katherine Tucker. "People think of bone as static. In fact, it's always being broken down and rebuilt, and that process is sensitive to a delicate balance of nutrients." How much bone do women lose during menopause? "You lose rapidly--about three percent per year--from sites such as the spine," explains Dawson-Hughes. "For peripheral sites like the arm or hip, you lose at a lower rate--about one percent per year." Four to eight years after menopause begins, the bone loss slows. "It drifts down to an average of one percent per year," says Dawson-Hughes. Men go through only the slower phase. Their bodies also make estrogen, though much less than testosterone testosterone (tĕstŏs`tərōn), principal androgen, or male sex hormone. One of the group of compounds known as anabolic steroids, testosterone is secreted by the testes (see testis) but is also synthesized in small quantities in the . Levels of active estrogen and testosterone drop with age. In both men and women, a decline in estrogen makes the intestine and kidneys absorb less calcium and signals bone to slow construction and speed up demolition (see "Super Remodel re·mod·el tr.v. re·mod·eled also re·mod·elled, re·mod·el·ing also re·mod·el·ling, re·mod·els also re·mod·els To make over in structure or style; reconstruct. ," p. 7). "It's always a balance between bones building up and breaking down," says researcher Lynda Frassetto of the University of California, San Francisco . "As you get older, the balance tips towards breaking down." Calcium & Vitamin D In 1992, researchers reported that elderly French women who were given calcium and vitamin D for 1 1/2 years had 43 percent fewer hip fractures than similar women who took a placebo. (1) And in 1997, U.S. researchers found higher bone density and fewer fractures in older men and women who were given calcium and vitamin D instead of a placebo. (2) "If you're not getting enough calcium and vitamin D, your bones break down to supply calcium to the rest of the body," explains Frassetto. It's not clear how much of the benefit is due to calcium and how much to vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. But to most health authorities, that's not a pressing question. "It may not be realistic to try to dissect dissect /dis·sect/ (di-sekt´) (di-sekt´) 1. to cut apart, or separate. 2. to expose structures of a cadaver for anatomical study. dis·sect v. the individual contributions of calcium, vitamin D, and physical activity on bone health," says the Surgeon General, "since they all need to be optimized." So far, they're not, at least for most Americans. And the deficits build up. "A negative balance of only 50-100 mg of calcium per day over a long period of time is sufficient to produce [osteoporosis]," cautions the Surgeon General. The typical woman consumes 800 milligrams of calcium a day (from food and supplements), while recommended levels range from 1,000 mg (for women aged 19 to 50 to 1,200 mg (for women over 50). It's tougher to gauge how much vitamin D people get, since some comes from exposure to sunlight. But it's clear that the vitamin's role is crucial. "Small intervention trials showed that vitamin D lowered the risk of falling," says Dawson-Hughes. When researchers pooled the trials--on more than 1,200 older people--they found a 22 percent drop in risk. (3) That's one of several clues that vitamin D strengthens not just bone but muscle. For example, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, older people with higher vitamin D levels in their blood performed better on tests of leg strength. "They do better on tests that measure how long it takes to get out of a chair and how long it takes to walk eight feet," says Dawson-Hughes. Another clue: muscles have "receptors" for vitamin D. "Several studies indicate that muscle fibers respond to activation of the vitamin D receptors by getting larger," she explains. The latest evidence on vitamin D has led many researchers to call for raising the recommended levels (400 IU a day for people 51 to 70 and 600 IU for those over 70). "If you look at bone mass, lower extremity lower extremity n. The hip, thigh, leg, ankle, or foot. Also called inferior limb, pelvic limb. muscle performance, and the risk of falling--all of which influence fracture risk--and then you look at fracture intervention trials," says Dawson-Hughes, "you come up with the sense that anyone over 60 needs about 1,000 IU of vitamin D a day." That level assumes that people get vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol cholecalciferol /cho·le·cal·ci·fer·ol/ (ko?le-kal-sif´er-ol) vitamin D; a hormone synthesized in the skin on irradiation of 7-dehydrocholesterol or obtained from the diet; it is activated when metabolized to 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. ), which has a greater impact on bone density and raises blood levels of vitamin D for a longer period of time than vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol ergocalciferol /er·go·cal·cif·er·ol/ (er?go-kal-sif´er-ol) vitamin D; a sterol occurring in fungi and some fish oils or synthesized from ergosterol, with similar activity and metabolism to those of cholecalciferol; used as a dietary ). (4,5) Experts estimate that D3 is at least three times more potent than D2. "Until recently, there was no suggestion that it made a difference," says Dawson-Hughes. Most supplements and foods (except fortified fortified (fôrt adj containing additives more potent than the principal ingredient. soy milks Soy milk (also called soya milk or soybean milk) and sometimes referred to as soy drink/beverage and even soy latte) is a beverage made from soybeans originating from China. ) use D3 (see "Good Day Sunshine"). Ingredient lists on labels don't have to say which vitamin D has been added, but most do. Vitamin K vitamin K Any of several fat-soluble compounds essential for the clotting of blood. A deficiency of vitamin K in the body leads to an increase in clotting time. In 1929 a previously unrecognized fat-soluble substance present in green leafy vegetables was found to be required "People in the lowest quarter of vitamin K intakes have a significantly higher risk of hip fracture," says Tufts researcher Sarah Booth. In one study, older men and women who consumed at least 254 micrograms (mcg) a day of vitamin K were 65 percent less likely to have a hip fracture over the next seven years than similar people who typically consumed no more than 56 mcg a day. (6) Researchers think they know why K is crucial. "The production of the bone matrix is dependent on vitamin K," says Dawson-Hughes. The bone matrix consists largely of a protein called osteocalcin. Bone-building cells called osteoblasts Osteoblasts Cells in the body that build new bone tissue. Mentioned in: Bone Grafting, Osteoporosis lay down the osteocalcin. When the matrix gets mineralized min·er·al·ize v. min·er·al·ized, min·er·al·iz·ing, min·er·al·iz·es v.tr. 1. To convert to a mineral substance; petrify. 2. To transform a metal into a mineral by oxidation. 3. , it becomes bone. "So if you're vitamin-K-deficient, you don't get as much bone matrix or as much bone," says Dawson-Hughes. A recent study from the Netherlands offers the strongest evidence so far that vitamin K matters. Researchers randomly assigned 155 healthy postmenopausal post·men·o·paus·al adj. Of or occurring in the time following menopause. postmenopausal Change of life Gynecology adjective Referring to the time in ♀ when menstrual periods stop for ≥ 1 yr women to take one of three daily pills: a placebo; a supplement containing calcium (500 mg), vitamin D (320 IU), zinc (10 mg), and magnesium magnesium (măgnē`zēəm, –zhəm), metallic chemical element; symbol Mg; at. no. 12; at. wt. 24.305; m.p. about 648.8°C;; b.p. about 1,090°C;; sp. gr. 1.738 at 20°C;; valence +2. (150 mg); or the same supplement plus vitamin K (1,000 mcg). (7) After three years, "there was significantly less bone loss in the group getting vitamin K" than in the other two groups, notes Booth. The current recommended vitamin K levels are 90 mcg a day for women and 120 mcg a day for men. But those are based on how much vitamin K the body needs to help blood clot blood clot n. A semisolid, gelatinous mass of coagulated blood that consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a fibrin network. , not to keep bones strong. How much vitamin K is enough for bones? "We know that 100 mcg a day is too low and 200 mcg a day is better, but we don't really know how much is optimal," says Booth. Researchers should know more in a year or two. "Three clinical trials are under way in the U.S.," says Booth. "They're using different doses and they'll all be finished by late 2006." The Tufts trial, for example, is giving 500 mcg a day, a fairly high dose. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile , the simple solution is to eat more vegetables. "If you eat a variety of vegetables, you can easily get enough vitamin K," says Booth (see "The Green Vitamin"). "Older people typically have higher intakes," she notes. "It's the 20-to-40-year-olds who get less. A tiny stalk stalk (stawk) an elongated anatomical structure resembling the stem of a plant. allantoic stalk of broccoli broccoli (brŏk`əlē) [Ital.,=sprouts], variety of cabbage grown for the edible immature flower panicles. It is the same variety (Brassica oleracea botrytis) as the cauliflower and is similarly cultivated. on your pizza isn't enough." Some multivitamins and some calcium supplements (like Viactiv) supply vitamin K (and vitamin D), but others don't, in part because vitamin K can interfere with blood-thinning drugs like warfarin warfarin (wôr`fərĭn), anticoagulant used to treat blood clots. In large doses it causes bleeding. Warfarin, mixed with bait, is used in rodent control. warfarin Anticoagulant drug, marketed as Coumadin. (Coumadin). People on those drugs shouldn't take vitamin K without checking with a physician. Protein Is protein good or bad for your bones? Some scientists argue that protein robs the body by making the kidneys excrete excrete /ex·crete/ (eks-kret´) to throw off or eliminate by a normal discharge, such as waste matter. ex·crete v. To eliminate waste material from the body. more calcium. But others find that elderly people who have had a hip fracture gain more bone if they're given a protein supplement. The answer may depend on how much calcium you get. Dawson-Hughes gave a daily placebo or supplement containing calcium (500 mg) plus vitamin D (700 IU) to 342 men and women aged 65 or older for three years. When researchers divided them into thirds according to protein intake, those who averaged 89 grams a day had less bone loss than the groups that averaged 79 grams of 72 grams a day. However, that was true only in people who took the calcium plus vitamin D. (8) "If people were in the placebo group, bone mass drifted down as protein intake rose," she explains. Why would protein's impact depend on calcium? "Protein stimulates the production of a bone growth factor called IGF-1," says Dawson-Hughes. IGF (Internet Governance Forum) An international organization of governments and U.N. agencies that was founded to discuss Internet issues such as security and spam. It was created at the United Nations Summit in 2005 after the U.S. stands for insulin-like growth factor insulin-like growth factor one of the twenty or so substances, additional to the classic bone-regulating hormones, which exert an effect on bone cell metabolism. See also somatomedin C. . "People who don't have much IGF are going to have lower bone--and probably muscle--mass," she adds. But protein has a downside Downside The dollar amount by which the market or a stock has the potential to fall. Notes: You might hear someone say that the downside on stock XYZ is $10. What that means is that the stock could fall by this amount if things got bad. for bone. "Protein also promotes urinary urinary /uri·nary/ (u´ri-nar?e) pertaining to, containing, or secreting urine. u·ri·nar·y adj. 1. Relating to urine and its production, function, or excretion. 2. calcium excretion excretion, process of eliminating from an organism waste products of metabolism and other materials that are of no use. It is an essential process in all forms of life. In one-celled organisms wastes are discharged through the surface of the cell. ," says Dawson-Hughes. So eating more protein means you lose more calcium in your urine. "Our hypothesis is that if you have a calcium intake that's adequate to offset that wasting through the kidney, maybe you can tip the balance towards bone growth." Fruits & Vegetables Some studies find denser bones in older people who consume more fruits and vegetables. (9) Why? They may protect bones by making the urine more alkaline alkaline /al·ka·line/ (al´kah-lin) (-lin) 1. having the reactions of an alkali. 2. having a pH greater than 7.0. al·ka·line adj. 1. . "Like people in other industrialized in·dus·tri·al·ize v. in·dus·tri·al·ized, in·dus·tri·al·iz·ing, in·dus·tri·al·iz·es v.tr. 1. To develop industry in (a country or society, for example). 2. countries, Americans eat more foods that produce acid than alkali alkali (ăl`kəlī) [Arab., al-gili=ashes of saltwort], hydroxide of an alkali metal. Alkalies are readily soluble in water and form strongly basic solutions with a characteristic acrid taste. ," explains the University of California's Lynda Frassetto. That's because our diets are high in grains (like bread, pasta, rice, and baked goods) and protein foods (meat, poultry, and seafood), which generate acid residues, and low in fruits and vegetables, which produce alkali. (Milk is neutral.) "Too much acid is bad for the system, so the body spends a lot of time and effort to get rid of it," explains Frassetto. That means neutralizing, or buffering, the acid with an alkali. "The biggest reservoir of alkali in the body is bone," says Frassetto. "So the body dissolves the mineral structure of bones to neutralize neutralize to render neutral. the acid" with an alkali like calcium bicarbonate Noun 1. calcium bicarbonate - a bicarbonate that is a major cause of hard water bicarbonate, hydrogen carbonate - a salt of carbonic acid (containing the anion HCO3) in which one hydrogen atom has been replaced; an acid carbonate . The body may also buffer acid by breaking down muscle. That releases ammonia ammonia, chemical compound, NH3, colorless gas that is about one half as dense as air at ordinary temperatures and pressures. It has a characteristic pungent, penetrating odor. (an alkali), which may pick up some acid on its way out of the body. "Muscle breakdown may also enable the kidney to dump acid," says Dawson-Hughes. "Eat more fruits and vegetables and you don't have the acid-load problem." Potassium potassium (pətăs`ēəm), a metallic chemical element; symbol K [Lat. kalium=alkali]; at. no. 19; at. wt. 39.0983; m.p. 63.25°C;; b.p. 760°C;; sp. gr. .862 at 20°C;; valence +1. Fruits and vegetables are packed with potassium. Is that why they seem to protect bones? "We don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if it's potassium that really matters and the fruits and vegetables are just going along for the ride," says Dawson-Hughes. "Studies on both sides are convincing." But research on potassium is easier to do. For example, Frassetto's team recently gave 170 postmenopausal women either potassium bicarbonate potassium bicarbonate n. A compound in the form of a white powder or colorless crystals, used in baking powder and as an antacid medicine. potassium bicarbonate K+Care ET Pharmacologic class: or a placebo for up to three years. (10) (Each woman also got 400 IU of vitamin D and enough calcium to bring her intake up to 1,200 mg a day.) "The more potassium they got, the less calcium they excreted," she says. "And potassium had the biggest effect in the women who were losing the most calcium." Frassetto is also looking at potassium's impact on bone density, but her results are not yet available. In the meantime, she recommends fruits and vegetables, not supplements. "We don't have the data to know how much people should take," she explains. More importantly, "there's a subset of people who shouldn't take potassium because they have trouble getting rid of it." That includes those who take medications that hinder potassium excretion (like the diuretics Diuretics Definition Diuretics are medicines that help reduce the amount of water in the body. Purpose Diuretics are used to treat the buildup of excess fluid in the body that occurs with some medical conditions such as congestive heart Aldactone, Midamor, and Dyrenium) and those--especially diabetics--who have impaired kidney function. "Many people don't know they have kidney problems," adds Frassetto. Too much potassium from supplements is dangerous. "It causes heart arrhythmias," she notes. "Potassium is sometimes used to kill people by lethal injection Fruits and vegetables, in contrast, are not only safe, but they're good for you. "They're high in fiber and antioxidants Antioxidants Substances that reduce the damage of the highly reactive free radicals that are the byproducts of the cells. Mentioned in: Aging, Nutritional Supplements antioxidants, n. and you can eat them instead of all the garbage that people eat," says Frassetto. Vitamin A vitamin A also called retinol Fat-soluble alcohol, most abundant in fatty fish and especially in fish-liver oils. It is not found in plants, but many vegetables and fruits contain beta-carotene (see It's not too little vitamin A, but too much, that can put bones at risk. In a study of 72,000 postmenopausal women, those who got the most vitamin A from retinol retinol: see Vitamin A under vitamin. (at lest 6,660 IU a day) in foods or supplements had nearly double the risk of hip fracture compared to those who got the least vitamin A from retinol (less than 1,700 IU a day). (11) "Overall, studies show a detrimental effect of vitamin A," says Tufts's Sarah Booth. "But some studies don't, so it's not conclusive Determinative; beyond dispute or question. That which is conclusive is manifest, clear, or obvious. It is a legal inference made so peremptorily that it cannot be overthrown or contradicted. . Still, many people are eating so much vitamin A and it's not conferring a benefit." Vitamin A--called retinol--is found in liver and some dairy foods. But a far bigger source is multivitamins and fortified foods. "Some people aren't aware of all the sources, like breakfast cereals This is a list of breakfast cereals. Many cereals are trademarked brands of large companies such as Kellogg's, General Mills, Malt-O-Meal, Nestlé, The Quaker Oats Company, and Post Cereals, but similar equivalent products are often sold by other manufacturers and as store own , energy bars, of Ensure," says Booth. Beta-carotene, which is found in fruits, vegetables, and many multivitamins and fortified foods, is converted into vitamin A in the body. But that doesn't threaten bones. Our advice: look for a multivitamin mul·ti·vi·ta·min adj. Containing many vitamins. n. A preparation containing many vitamins. multivitamin with no more than 2,000 or 3,000 IU of vitamin A from retinol. (The ingredient list should say vitamin A acetate acetate (ăs`ĭtāt'), one of the most important forms of artificial cellulose-based fibers; the ester of acetic acid. The first patents for the production of fibers from cellulose acetate appeared at the beginning of the 20th cent. or palmitate palmitate ester of palmitic acid, a common dietary fatty acid. . Don't count any beta-carotene that the supplement may contain.) And don't take two multivitamins a day to get a higher dose of vitamin D. "It's not a good idea because you'd be getting too much vitamin A and possibly other nutrients," says Dawson-Hughes. Exercise Strain is good. The body constantly monitors how much strain muscles put on bone. More strain signals the body to build bone. Less strain sends a message to break down bone. "Some people make bone loss worse by not doing enough exercise," says Frassetto. "If you sit around all day, you'll have weaker bones than if you're walking around and staying active." In a study of more than 60,000 women aged 40 to 77, those who walked for at least four hours a week had a 40 percent lower risk of hip fracture than those who walked for less than an hour a week. (12) Exercise builds more bone in youngsters, especially during puberty puberty (py `bərtē), period during which the onset of sexual maturity occurs. ,
when kids gain 25 to 30 percent of their bone mass. In middle-aged and
older people, it's more a matter of slowing losses."In a one-year exercise program, you see about a one percent increase in bone density, while density drifts downward in the placebo [non-exercising] group," says Dawson-Hughes. For older people, exercise is crucial because it lowers the risk of falling. On average, we lose five percent of our muscle mass every decade after age 30, and the loss accelerates after age 65. "By increasing strength and balance, you find fewer falls," adds Dawson-Hughes. What's the best exercise? "It doesn't matter what you do as long as you're using bones to work against gravity," says Frassetto. That translates into almost any activity except swimming or bicycling. "When you're swimming, the water holds you up so you're not working against gravity," she explains. "When you're bicycling, you're supported by the bike, so it's difficult to show that it builds bone density." Other Factors Several other factors affect bone, but to a lesser (or less certain) degree. Among them: * Alcohol. It's a double-edged sword. "Heavy alcohol intake is a risk factor for osteoporosis," says Tufts University's Katherine Tucker. "But smaller amounts--about one drink a day--are beneficial for women." (Researchers haven't studied men.) Alcohol may strengthen bones because it raises estrogen levels. Estrogen may also explain why thin women have a greater risk of osteoporosis than overweight women. "Obesity raises estrogen levels," says Tucker. "Unfortunately, that's the same reason why both alcohol and obesity increase the risk of breast cancer." * Caffeine caffeine (kăfēn`), odorless, slightly bitter alkaloid found in coffee, tea, kola nuts (see cola), ilex plants (the source of the Latin American drink maté), and, in small amounts, in cocoa (see cacao). . "Caffeine has a weak negative effect, because it increases calcium excretion," says Dawson-Hughes. "But you can offset the loss by raising calcium intake. It's fairly minor, but everything makes a contribution." * Magnesium. Like potassium, magnesium helps neutralize acid in the body. However, its effect on bone "isn't as clear cut as calcium's," says Dawson-Hughes. One reason: "Magnesium is hard to study because blood levels don't reflect tissue levels." Nevertheless, some studies find greater bone density in people who consume more magnesium. "The best way to get magnesium is from whole grains, nuts, and vegetables," says Tucker. "But both potassium and magnesium are easily lost in processing, so they're low in the U.S. diet." * Soft drinks. An Irish study found lower bone density in teenage girls who drink more soft drinks. (13) Another found more fractures in girls who drink more cola, but not other sodas. (14) "Some researchers think the negative effect on bone is due to soft drinks' displacing milk," says Tucker. "But others think that only colas cause calcium loss because they have phosphoric acid phosphoric acid, any one of three chemical compounds made up of phosphorus, oxygen, and hydrogen (see acids and bases). The most common, orthophosphoric acid, H3PO4, is usually simply called phosphoric acid. , which can interfere with calcium absorption." * Soy. Soybeans are rich in plant estrogens Estrogens Hormones produced by the ovaries, the female sex glands. Mentioned in: Acne, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome estrogens (es´trōjenz), n. called isoflavones isoflavones (īˑ·sō·flāˈ·vōnz), n.pl phytoestrogenic compounds found in various plants, including red clover and soy. . Can they replace the bone-boosting estrogens that women lose when they go through menopause? It's too early to say. In a study of 175 women aged 60 to 75, isoflavone-rich soy protein Soy protein is generally regarded as the storage protein held in discrete particles called protein bodies which are estimated to contain at least 60–70% of the total soybean protein. had no impact on bone density (of memory or LDL cholesterol LDL cholesterol n. See low-density lipoprotein. LDL Cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the primary cholesterol molecule. High levels of LDL increase the risk of coronary heart disease. ) after one year. (15) But two longer studies are still under way. One is testing soy isoflavones (not soy protein) on 400 postmenopausal women for two years. The second is giving isoflavones to 234 women for three years. * Sodium. Like caffeine, sodium also increases calcium excretion. According to the National Academy of Sciences, every 500 mg of sodium (from salt) causes postmenopausal women to lose an extra 10 mg of calcium. As with caffeine, taking more calcium can offset the loss. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (1) New Eng NEW ENG New England . J. Med. 327: 1637, 1992. (2) New Eng. J. Med. 337: 670, 1997. (3) J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 291: 1999, 2004. (4) Endocrinol. Rev. 23: 560, 2002. (5) J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 89: 5387, 2004. (6) Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 71: 1201, 2000. (7) Calcif. Tissue Int. 73: 21, 2003. (8) Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 75: 773, 2002. (9) Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 69: 727, 1999. (10) J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 90: 831, 2005. (11) J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 287: 47, 2002. (12) J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 288: 2300, 2002. (13) J. Bone Mineral Res. 18: 1563, 2003. (14) Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 154: 610, 2000. (15) J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 292: 65, 2004.
Good Day Sunshine
Your skin makes vitamin D when it's exposed to the sun's ultra-violet
rays (unless you're wearing sunscreen). But north of the line running
between Los Angeles and Atlanta, the UV light is too weak to make
vitamin D from late fall through early spring.
A multivitamin has 400 IU of vitamin D, enough for people up to
age 70. If you're over 70, the recommended level is 600 IU a day,
and some researchers think it should be 1,000 IU for people who
get no sun. Here are some of the best sources.
Vitamin D
(International
Food Units)
Catfish (3 oz. cooked) 570
Multivitamin, most brands (1 day's worth) 400
Pink salmon, canned (1/4 cup) 400
Quaker Oatmeal Nutrition for Women (1 packet) 140
Slim-Fast Shake (1 can-11 oz.) 140
Silk Soymilk (1 cup) 120 *
Ensure (1 can-8 oz.) 100
Milk (1 cup) 100
Minute Maid Calcium + D Orange Juice (1 cup) 100
Tropicana Calcium + Vitamin D Orange Juice (1 cup) 100
Viactiv Soft Calcium Chews (1 chew) 100
Yoplait Nouriche Smoothie (11 oz.) 100
Tuna, light, canned in water or oil (1/4 cup) 90
Dannon Light 'n Fit Nonfat Yogurt (6 oz.) 80
Yoplait Original, Ultra, or Custard Style Yogurt 80
(6 oz.)
Country Crock Plus Calcium & Vitamins spread (1 Tbs.) 60
Breakfast cereal, most brands (3/4-1 cup) 40
Egg Beaters (1/4 cup) 40
Parkay Calcium spread (1 Tbs.) 40
Sara Lee Heart Healthy Plus Bread (1 slice) 40
Egg, large (1) 20
* Most foods and supplements contain vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).
Fortified soy milks contain less-potent vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol),
which comes from vegetable sources.
Sources: U.S Department of Agriculture and company information.
The Green Vitamin
The Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin K is 90 micrograms
(mcg) for women and 120 mcg for men, but some studies suggest that
your bones need 150 to 250 mcg a day. Leafy green vegetables are
the richest source. Multivitamins don't have much.
Food Vitamin K
(1/2 cup cooked vegetables) (micrograms)
Kale 530
Spinach 440
Collards 420
Spinach, raw (1 1/2 cups) 220
Parsley (10 sprigs) 160
Broccoli 110
Brussels sprouts 110
Romaine lettuce (1 1/2 cups) 90
Coleslaw (1 cup) 80
Bibb or Boston lettuce (1 1/2 cups) 60
Cabbage 40
Grapes, red or green (1 1/2 cups) 40
Viactiv Soft Calcium Chews (1 chew) 40
Blueberries (1 cup) 30
Okra 30
Green peas, frozen 20
Iceberg lettuce (1 1/2 cups) 20
Sources: U.S Department of Agriculture and company information.
What's Your Risk?
These questions estimate your risk of fracturing a hip over the next
five years. (They're based on a study of 10,000 women, so the results
may not apply to men.) Knowing your bone mineral density (BMD) makes
the score more accurate, but you can rate your risk without it.
Points
1. What is your current age?
Less than 65 0
65-69 1
70-74 2
75-79 3
80-84 4
85 or older 5
2. Have you broken any
bones after age 50?
Yes 1
No/Don't know 0
3. Has your mother had a
hip fracture after
age 50?
Yes 1
No 0
4. Do you weigh 125 pounds
or less?
Yes 1
No 0
5. Are you currently a
smoker?
Yes 1
No 0
6. Do you usually need to
use your arms to assist
yourself in standing up
from a chair?
Yes 1
No/Don't know 0
If you have had a recent
bone density (BMD)
assessment, answer
the next question.
7. BMD results:
Total Hip T-score
Above -1 0
Between
-1 and -2 2
Between
-2 and -2.5 3
Below -2.5 4
Your Risk of Fracturing a Hip Over the Next Five Years
If you don't know your bone density
Total Score Risk
1 0.6%
2 1.4%
3 2.1%
4 3.2%
5-9 8.2%
If you know your bone density
Total Score Risk
1-2 0.4%
3-4 0.9%
5 1.9%
6-7 3.9%
8-13 8.7%
Source: Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General
(www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth).
Potassium on Tap
Experts recommend 4,700 mg of potassium a day, largely from fruits
and vegetables, not supplements. Bonus: in addition to helping
strengthen bones, potassium may also cut your risk of kidney
stones and strokes.
Food Potassium
(1/2 cup cooked vegetables) (milligrams)
Potato (1) 940
Sweet potato (1) 540
Banana (1) 490
Halibut (3 oz. cooked) 490
Lima beans 490
Fresh tuna (3 oz. cooked) 480
Swiss chard 480
Acorn squash 450
Spinach 420
Salmon (3 oz. cooked) 390
Cantaloupe (1/4 melon) 370
Lentils 370
Milk (1 cup) 370
Watermelon (2 cups) 320
Grapes (1 cup) 310
Pork (3 oz. cooked) 310
Raisins (1/4 cup) 310
Pistachios (50) 300
Flounder (3 oz. cooked) 290
Parsnips 290
Beef (3 oz. cooked) 270
Wheat germ (2 Tbs.) 270
Pinto beans 260
Brussels sprouts 250
Prunes (4) 250
Orange (1) 230
Zucchini 230
Artichokes 220
Chickpeas 220
Almonds (20) 210
Collard greens 210
Chicken (3 oz. cooked) 200
Peanuts (30) 190
Tuna, canned (1/4 cup) 130
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Super Remodel Most of the adult skeleton is replaced about every 10 years. Remodeling remodeling /re·mod·el·ing/ (re-mod´el-ing) reorganization or renovation of an old structure. bone remodeling repairs small cracks, gets rid of old bone, and frees up calcium in case the body needs it. 1. Bone-dissolving cells called osteoclasts Osteoclasts Bone cells that break down and remove bone tissue. Mentioned in: Bone Grafting, Osteoporosis approach old bone. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2. Osteoclasts use enzymes to dissolve bone tissue. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3. Bone-building cells called osteoblasts prepare to lay down a bone matrix made mostly of a protein called osteocalcin. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 4. Calcium and phosphorus phosphorus (fŏs`fərəs) [Gr.,=light-bearing], nonmetallic chemical element; symbol P; at. no. 15; at. wt. 30.97376; m.p. 44.1°C;; b.p. about 280°C;; sp. gr. 1.82 at 20°C;; valence −3, +3, or +5. attach to the matrix and create new bone. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The Bottom Line
Shoot for This Much
Food or Nutrient Every Day What You Need to Know
Calcium 1,000 mg if 19 to 50 To protect the
1,200 mg if over 50 prostate, men
shouldn't exceed
1,500 mg.
Vitamin D 400 IU if 50 to 70 Shoot for 1,000 IU if
600 to 1,000 IU if you're over 70 and get
over 70 no sun exposure.
Vitamin K 150 to 250 mcg Talk to your doctor
if you take
blood-thinning drugs.
Protein At least 46 grams In one study, older
(women) people who ate 90
At least 56 grams grams a day had
(men) denser bones.
Potassium 4,700 mg Get it from foods,
not supplements.
Fruits & vegetables 4 1/2 cups There's no better way
to get potassium and
vitamin K.
Exercise 30 minutes or more To get or stay trim,
you'll need 60 to
90 minutes a day.
Vitamin A 2,330 IU (women) The outdated Daily
retinol (as acetate 3,000 IU (men) Value (DV) for vitamin
or palmitate), A that's used on
carotenoids (e.g., (More is okay labels (5,000 IU)
beta-carotene) only if it's from is too high.
beta-carotene.)
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