| Bone loss happens over time, accelerating with age and menopause. To some extent, every person, male and female, experiences a degree of bone loss with age. But it’s a far less severe problem for men, since they start out with about 30% more bone mass than women and tend to lose it more slowly. |
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The process of bone breakdown and repair occurs throughout life. With osteoporosis, the calcium that keeps bones strong is lost and new bone formation stops occurring to repair bone loss. The result is that the skeleton becomes fragile, and the bones grow thin and brittle.
Bone loss happens over time, accelerating with age and menopause. To some extent, every person, male and female, experiences a degree of bone loss with age. But it’s a far less severe problem for men, since they start out with about 30% more bone mass than women and tend to lose it more slowly. It’s also less severe in women who have darker skin; because they have about 10% more bone mass than women of European or Asian ancestry or who have fair skin.
Hip fractures among elderly women are a costly and devastating epidemic in this country. Osteoporosis carries a $7 billion annual medical price tag, and $5 billion of that is due to hip fractures. Aside from the cost, hip fractures are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Falling down is the leading cause of death among people over age 75, mainly among women. All patients with hip fractures require hospitalization and between 12% and 20% die during the first year. Of those who survive, 50% will never walk independently again.
Risk factors for osteoporosis include:
- Family history – especially a mother with osteoporosis
- A thin and small fame
- Light skin
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine
- Low muscle mass
- Taking calcium-depleting medications, such as cortisone
- Pre-menopause hysterectomy or early menopause
- Smoking
- Eating disorders
The Calcium Connection
Calcium is a mineral essential for building bones and teeth and for maintaining bone strength. Bones and teeth contain 90% of the body’s calcium stores. When bones don’t contain enough calcium, they weaken. The body’s ability to absorb calcium is influenced by the form in which it is taken, its interaction with other nutrients, and the way it is absorbed into and eliminated out of the body.
Certain nutrients have a direct affect on calcium absorption. Vitamin D, which is converted into a hormone called calcitriol, regulates the transport of calcium from the digestive tract to the bloodstream and into the bones. Phosphorous is another mineral that has an effect on bone density. Too much or too little phosphorous in the body can harm bone formation. Magnesium is important for the body’s utilization of calcium and vitamin D. Protein is vital to the formation of bones, but too much protein can increase the amount of calcium lost in the urine. When protein breaks down in the body, it produces organic acids, and the body pulls calcium carbonate out of the bones to act as a buffer. So, although too little protein can damage bones, too much can weaken them.
Certain medications can also leach calcium from the system, for example thyroid hormone encourages bone loss. Other medical treatments that can deplete calcium include cortisone, chemotherapy, long-term lithium therapy, anti-convulsants, and long term use of phosphate-binding antacids. Endocrine disorders can also contribute to osteoporosis. These include hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, and Type 1 diabetes.
Dr. D'Adamo's highly absorbable calcium supplements are individualized
for each Blood Type - Phytocal®
A, Phytocal®
B, Phytocal®
AB, and Phytocal®
O.
Blood Group Links
Blood group A has the highest incidence of osteoporosis for two reasons. First,
evidence suggests that intestinal alkaline phosphatase enzyme, in addition to
enhancing fat breakdown, also enhances the absorption of calcium. Groups A and
AB are known to have lower levels of intestinal alkaline phosphatase. On the
other hand, groups O and B, with higher levels, are less susceptible to osteoporosis.
In addition, people with higher stomach acid tend to absorb calcium more efficiently,
giving groups A and AB, with naturally low stomach acid levels, a disadvantage.
Dr. D'Adamo has formulated a money-saving pack of supplements to help with joint
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