Osteoporosis is a disease where bones become thin, weak, brittle and prone to fracture especially the spine, wrists and hips.
It is destructive and painless until the thinned and weakened bones break during a fall or knocking against a hard surface.
Osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures annually, resulting in an osteoporotic fracture every 3 seconds.
Risk factors for Osteoporosis include:
Age
Bone mass naturally declines after reaching peak density and strength, usually around age 30.
Gender
Due to hormonal changes during menopause, women have a fourfold higher likelihood of developing osteoporosis compared to men.
Bone structure & body weight
Petite and thin women have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis because they have smaller and less dense bones.
A Strong family history of Osteoporosis
Low Vitamin D intake
Heavy drinking & smoking
Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle
High intake of coffee & carbonated drinks
You are at an increased risk of osteoporosis if your bones break down faster than they form, leading to a loss of density. Calcium and other minerals contribute to bone mineral density,
which helps strengthen and protect bones.
What is Calcium?
- The most abundant mineral in the body and makes up 1.9% of the body by weight with 99% of this in the skeleton.
- It is not produced in the body but depends on outside sources.
- It is important to start calcium supplementation as early as possible as peak bone mass is reach between mid-20s and 30-s.
- Calcium also plays an important role in regulating vital body processes such as blood coagulation, muscle contraction and nerve transmission.
- However, the problem arises because calcium is often very difficult to be absorbed.
ABOUT Calcium Citrate
- Calcium Citrate is a superior form of calcium supplementation, as it involves calcium bonded with natural citric acid. It is well-absorbed by the body, even without the presence of food
- The solubility of citric acid makes it particularly effective for all age groups, especially for the elderly, individuals with gastrointestinal diseases, and post-menopausal women.
- This is crucial because the elderly and post-menopausal women typically have lower stomach acid secretion, which is necessary for calcium absorption.
- The formula is set at pH 5.8, which is the optimum pH for calcium absorption.
- The citrate form also protect against calcium stones forming.
Nutrients that aid
calcium absorption
Vitamin D
Calcium absorption is dependent on sufficient Vitamin D, which aids absorption from the intestines. Adequate levels of active Vitamin D are essential for optimal absorption.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays a role in keeping calcium dissolved in the blood. Maintaining a proper balance or ratio of Calcium to Magnesium (2:1) supports the body in absorbing and metabolizing calcium.
Other Minerals
Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Boron, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Folic Acid are also necessary to strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis.
Silica
Silica, found in the horsetail herb, 'locks' the calcium in the bones.
References:
- Johnell O and Kanis JA 2006, "An estimate of the worldwide prevalence and disability associated with osteoporotic fractures", Osteoporosis International, vol. 17:1726.
- Queseda Gomez, JM et al. 2011, "Calcium citrate and Vitamin D in the treatment of osteoporosis", Clinical Drug Investigations, vol 31(5), pp. 285 - 298
- National Osteoporosis Foundation. Bone Basics. Available at http://www.nof.org/learn/bonebasics.[Accessed July 2013]. National institute of health. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Calcium. Available at http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/#disc. [Accessed July 2013]
- Malaysian Osteoporosis Society. Clinical Guidance on Management of Osteoporosis 2012. Available at www.osteoporosis.my/GUI/pdf/clinical_practice.pdf. [Accessed July 2013]
- Carolyn. D. Understanding Calcium Magnesium Ratio. Available at http://www.wellnesstimes.com/articles/understanding-calcium-magnesium-ratio. [Accessed July 2013] Linda H., Vanessa A.F. (2011) Calcium Supplement Guidelines. The University of Arizona.
This information is provided by Groway for education purposes only. It should not be used to substitute medical diagnosis.