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osteoporosis ...
Calcium needs to be taken daily, in a
dose of over 1,000mg (1g) (some authorities recommend over 1,500mg a
day). This should preferably be a combination of calcium rich food plus
calcium
supplements. The average diet contains only 600-800mg of calcium a day
and this is why it may be necessary to take extra calcium supplements.
Be careful when choosing calcium
preparations. Not all calcium is absorbed by the body unless it is in
certain chemical configurations. Some people may only be able to absorb
one fifth of the calcium they take and most commercial preparations
contain insufficient amounts of good quality calcium supplements. Our bodies are
usually able to absorb calcium in the elemental form, one variety of
which is calcium bis-glycinate, so have this in mind when reading the
ingredients on the label. Choose calcium supplements in capsule form because tablets
may not break down completely in the gut.
Vitamin D, in the order of over 400
units daily, is needed to help the bones absorb calcium properly and to
keep it there. It needs to be taken together with calcium supplements
and there are several products on the market offering this combination.
Other drugs used for the treatment of
osteoporosis are called bisphosphonates. Examples of these are
etidronate (Didronel) and alendronate (Fosamax), which increase the bone
strength and reduce the risk of fractures. These are not hormones and
they have different side effects. Treatment with bisphosphonates is
mainly reserved for established cases of osteoporosis, not for
prevention at present.
In a recent trial studying the effects
of alendronate on nearly 2000 women in 34 countries, researchers found
that it dramatically boosted the strength of the bone tissue and reduced
the risk of fracture.
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