By Bernie Noe, ND

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones get weak, leading to an increased risk of fracture, particularly in the hip and spine. It usually occurs with aging, and is more common in women. In women it becomes more common above the age of 50, when about one half will experience an osteoporosis related fracture. For men, the risk becomes greater above the age of 70, when about 1 in 5 men develop osteoporosis. It is sometimes confused with osteoarthritis, an unrelated condition that leads to joint pain.

Osteoporosis is diagnosed by measuring bone mass, usually with a special type of x-ray called a DEXA scan. A T-score (which compares your bone mass to that of a young adult) of -2.5 or lower is diagnostic of osteoporosis. A T-score of -1 to -2.5 is considered osteopenia, a low bone mass condition that hasn't progressed to osteoporosis. A T-score higher than -1.0 is considered normal.

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends osteoporosis screening for all women age 65 or older and earlier for high risk individuals. The World Health Organization has also developed a great tool to assess 10 year fracture risk called the FRAX. It doesn't replace a DEXA scan ordered by a physician, but it is free, non-invasive, and is available online at www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/

The primary modifiable risk factors for osteoporosis are physical inactivity, vitamin D deficiency, calcium deficiency, excessive alcohol intake, low body weight, smoking and certain medications (including corticosteroids and some anti-convulsants).

Risk factors that can't be modified include a family history of osteoporosis and amenorrhea in women (absence of menstrual periods for a long time).

Natural treatments for osteoporosis and osteopenia include the following:

Physical activity - In addition to osteoporosis, physical inactivity tends to cause weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, and a host of other chronic diseases. The minimum guideline for physical activity is 30 minutes daily of moderate intensity exercise. Optimal is 45-60 minutes per day.

Vitamin D - Vitamin D influences how much calcium is absorbed the intestines and has been found to be a better predictor of osteoporosis risk than calcium intake in many studies. The RDA for vitamin D is 600 IU per day, but I recommend 2000-4000 IU daily for most people. Those with osteopenia or osteoporosis may need more and should have their blood levels of vitamin D checked annually.

Strontium - Strontium is a mineral that gets incorporated into the bony matrix along with calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. Numerous studies have shown an increase in bone mass and/or reduction in fracture risk with strontium supplementation.

Vitamin K - There are different forms of vitamin K including K1 and K2. The best evidence for osteoporosis is with the K2 form. A recent meta-analysis, which pooled the results from 13 trials on vitamin K2 found a dramatic 77%, 60%, and 81% reduction in fracture risk (hip, spine, and non-vertebral fractures, respectively).

Calcium - Taking extra calcium won't help if you are already getting enough, but it may if you are deficient. The RDA for most adults is 1000 mg/day (women over 50 and men over 70 should get 1200 mg/day).

Reduce alcohol - While alcohol in moderation may lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, alcohol in excess can promote osteoporosis. In general, men should limit alcohol to 2 drinks per day or less and women to 1 per day or less. Those with osteopenia or osteoporosis may benefit from further reductions.

Stop smoking - In addition to osteoporosis, tobacco raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer, and other diseases. For help with tobacco cessation, call the Quitline at 1-877-YES-QUIT.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - HRT does have potential risks, including an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer. Natural/bio-identical forms of HRT may have less risk and can be an option for those with a high risk for osteoporosis and a low risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

For those who don't have osteoporosis or osteopenia but want to prevent it, it is important to address as many of the modifiable risk factors listed above as possible.

Lifestyle Changes Can Add a Decade or More to Life

An analysis of statistical data has shown that adopting seven simple lifestyle changes can add a decade or more of healthy years to life, and that people who follow all seven steps can expect to live an additional 40 to 50 years after the age of 50. This translates to a 90 percent chance of living to age 90 or 100 free of chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease and stroke. Adopting all seven lifestyle habits involves: being active, knowing and controlling cholesterol, following a healthy diet, knowing and controlling blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, managing diabetes, and staying tobacco and smoke free. These lifestyle changes tend to compress life-threatening diseases into the final stages of life. (Heart disease and stroke rates have declined significantly over the past half century, but this health dividend is being offset by a large increase in obesity and diabetes rates.) This study was presented October 23, 2011, at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Vancouver. It has not been published or posted online.

Common Drugs Behind Some Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men

Researchers have concluded that use of certain prescription medicines of various types, including antihistamines and diuretics, are the cause in men, of about ten percent of all cases of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as frequent urination. (LUTS is a set of symptoms associated with aging that includes frequent urination, weak stream, post-void dribbling, and hesitancy in initiating the stream.) An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostate hyperplasia, is considered the main cause of LUTS, and past research has found that certain medications can make enlarged prostate symptoms worse. However, the study found that these drugs can also cause LUTS, most especially in men who do not have enlarged prostate. All six drug groups surveyed - antidepressants, antihistamines, bronchodilators, anticholinergics, sympathomimetics, and diuretics - caused urinary symptoms in some men. Diuretics in particular, sometimes referred to as water pills, were linked with frequent urination, and cause three percent of LUTS. Antidepressants cause four percent of LUTS, and bronchodilators cause two percent. Released October 10, 2011, this study will appear in a future issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. It is accessible now online at http://bit.ly/nZ6lDL with subscription or fee.

Lower Protein Consumption Can Increase Calorie Intake, Weight

A study has found that reducing the protein portion of the diet from 15 percent to 10 percent can increase calorie intake by 12 percent in just four days, suggesting that proper protein consumption levels play a key role in avoiding obesity. Also, 70 percent of the increased calorie intake was the result of snacking, which often involves less than ideal nutrition choices. The researchers found that the body has a specific appetite for protein and when protein consumption is low, it drives the body to increase energy intake, which means a higher calorie intake. The study may mean that, when the body automatically increases its calorie intake in response to a decrease in protein consumption, more calories come from the readily available choices of foods rich in fat and carbohydrates, which are calorie-rich. Diets that cut protein intake may contribute to weight gain. This study was released October 12, 2011 by the journal PLoS One and will appear in a future issue. However, it is available online now at http://bit.ly/od9VeX without cost.

Certain Vegetables Vital for Immune and Repair System

A study has found that a diet lacking cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, kale, etc.) results in a poorly functioning immune and repair system, by causing a 70 to 80 percent reduction in important immune cells called intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs). The researchers fed mice a diet low in these vegetables. After three weeks, they observed lower levels of certain cell-surface proteins called aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs), which appear to be regulated by compounds found in cruciferous vegetables. The study found that lower levels of these AhR proteins directly causes lower levels of the key immune cells known as IELs. The IEL immune cells are found in the gut and on the skin, where they restrict the numbers and types of microbes in these areas; trigger antimicrobial proteins; and speed the repair of injured tissue. These findings cannot be directly extrapolated to humans, but suggest it may a good idea to include cruciferous vegetables in the diet to keep the immune and repair system from failing. This study was released October 13, 2011, and is scheduled for a future issue of the journal Cell. It is online now at http://bit.ly/pE3qu4 with subscription or fee.

Greater Fluid Intake May Help Prevent Bladder Cancer

A research team has found that drinking a greater volume of low-sugar fluids reduces the risk in men of developing bladder cancer; that men drink fewer liquids as they age; and that physicians should recommend greater low-sugar fluid intake to at-risk patients. The large study included 47,909 men aged 40 to 75, and covered a 22-year period with participants completing a questionnaire every four years. Those generally receiving a greater fluid intake had a lower incidence of bladder cancer, although the study did not determine the reason for this protective effect. It was hypothesized that fluids may flush out potential carcinogens before they have the opportunity to cause the tissue damage that can lead to bladder cancer. The association between greater fluid intake and lower cancer risk was stronger among the youngest men in the study. Also, men were found to drink less fluid, especially water, as they aged. This study was first presented October 24, 2011 at the international conference of the American Association for Cancer Research, in Boston. It has not yet been published or posted online.

Analgesic Use Linked to Renal Cell Carcinoma

Researchers conducting an analysis of previous studies have determined that with the exception of aspirin, use of drugs known as NSAIDs - non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs - significantly increases the risk of renal cell carcinoma, or RCC. (Renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer that starts in the lining of very small tubes, or tubules, in the kidney.) Previous studies showed mixed results but this study combined evidence from 18 prior studies and found a clear risk of RCC with non-aspirin NSAIDs. While other NSAIDs increased the risk of RCC by 26 percent, acetaminophen was found to raise the risk of RCC by 33 percent. However, the evidence did not show a link between aspirin and renal cell carcinoma. This study was first presented October 25, 2011 at the international conference of the American Association for Cancer Research, in Boston. It has not yet been published or posted online.

Greater Tanning Bed Use Increases Risk of Three Skin Cancer Types

A study has found that indoor tanning raises the risk of developing three common skin cancers, and that risk increases by 11 to 15 percent for every four tanning sessions within a one-year period. (Tanning bed use remains widespread with over 10 percent of Americans using a facility at least several times a year.) This 20-year study of over 73,000 women found indoor tanning increased the risk for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma by 15 percent for every four visits made to a tanning booth per year, compared to non-users. The risk for melanoma increased by 11 percent for every four visits made to a booth per year, compared to non-users. The effect was seen to be more predominant during the high school or college years. For some reason, the risk for basal cell carcinoma was higher when tanning was done during the high school or college years, compared to use during the ages of 25 to 35. Presented October 25, 2011 at the conference of the American Association for Cancer Research, this study has not yet been published or posted.

Shift Work Promotes Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease

A study has found that female night shift workers have a greater incidence of metabolic syndrome and a greater incidence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including higher blood pressure and increased abdominal circumference. In fact, the research found metabolic syndrome among 74 percent of those who had been working night shifts for more than 15 years. Because so many men perform night shift work, previous research has largely reflected cardiovascular risks among male night workers; this study focused only on women doing shift work in two hospitals in southeastern Ontario, including various positions such as nursing, administrative staff, and lab technicians. The reason for the greater risk of both metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease is not known, but it may involve a disruption of biological rhythms, sleeping, eating, and exercise patterns. (Earlier Statistics Canada numbers found shift workers were more likely to cut back on sleep, and spend less time with their spouses, compared with regular day workers.) This study was presented October 23, 2011 in Vancouver at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2011. It has not been published or posted.

Vitamin B Derivative Helps Prevent Kidney Disease in Diabetics

A study has concluded that a vitamin B derivative called pyridorin (or pyridoxamine dihydrochloride) appears to slow or help prevent the progression of kidney disease among diabetic patients, although it does not seem to help patients with advanced kidney disease. Pyridorin targets several cellular processes that may be relevant to the progression of diabetic kidney disease. Dosages found to have no effect on advanced kidney disease patients but found to reduce the risk of kidney disease in those with early or no kidney problems were both 150mg twice a day, and 300 mg twice a day. This vitamin B derivative is defined as a vitamin because it acts like one in the body, where it is converted to the biologically active form of vitamin B6. Because the prevalence of diabetes is expected to double by 2030, this finding may help increasing numbers of diabetics who are known to have a higher risk of kidney disease. This study was released October 27, 2011 by the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, and will appear in an upcoming issue. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/rrFg5s with subscription or fee.

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Mortality in Kidney Disease Patients

Scientists have concluded that individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who have deficient levels of vitamin D show greater risk of mortality from all causes, especially cardiovascular disease, compared to CKD patients who did not have a vitamin D deficiency, and that this finding confirms current practitioner guidelines to correct vitamin D deficiencies among kidney patients. (Diabetics and those with high blood pressure are at greater risk of chronic kidney disease, which can be diagnosed with a simple blood test of creatinine levels. Vitamin D deficiency is found in the majority of patients with chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic renal disease, and this may be a factor in disease complications; until now, it has not been known if this deficiency affected death risk.) In fact, compared to CKD patients with vitamin D sufficiency, those CKD patients with the severest vitamin D deficiency had 3.79 times the risk of dying from any cause, and 5.61 times the risk of dying from cardiovascular causes. This study is published in the November 2011 issue of the journal Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, and is accessible online at http://bit.ly/svoz1h with subscription or access fee.

©2011 ChooseNewsDaily, used with permission