Osteoporosis/Bone Density Loss

This is such an important issue, clouded in myths about Calcium, that I have written a pretty detailed factsheet for you detailing:

• why osteoporosis and bone loss is NOT just about calcium,

• why other cultures don't get it and we do

• how to test if you're losing bone long before a scan would show any loss

• and what to do about if you are.

Here's a little bit of one section for you:

Why it isn't about low Calcium intake...

That poor intake of Calcium is the main factor in osteoporosis is indeed questionable. If we take a look at intake levels, we find that the average Brit takes in about 800mg/day, which is far above even the Government's RNI (Recommended Nutrient Intake) of 700mg/day. In addition, several studies have shown that other cultures take in far less Calcium per day, yet suffer far fewer bone problems than we do.

Studies in Sri Lanka, for example, showed the Calcium level in bones is maintained on just 200mg/day. In another study, Bantu adults taking in 300mg Calcium/day simply don't suffer with it - and they have far better skeletons than Europeans! In Peru, another study suggested the same.

Why? Clearly it is not just about Calcium intake.

Bone needs to be thought of as a living tissue, not just as a depository of Calcium; it is changing all the time, breaking down and being built back up in a very complex system. Minerals are crucial to the body in many ways - we simply couldn't function without them. But no mineral works in isolation, rather each one is dependent on other ‘co-factors' which affect the way it is used in the body. Osteoporosis, then, is not just about the supply of Calcium as other nutrients are needed to ensure the Calcium is used properly.

You can download the full 7 page factsheet here.