Osteoporosis: international study shows calcium intake must start early

International bone health specialist Professor Connie Weaver is in South Africa to raise awareness about the prevention of Osteoporosis ahead of Osteoporosis Day on Saturday, 20th October.

It is expected that 1 in 3 women will suffer an osteoporosis related fracture in their lifetime and whilst most women consider calcium supplementation in their 40s and 50s - latest studies suggest that bone mass starts declining after the age of 35 - and therefore it is most beneficial to achieve adequate bone mass before this age.

The level of peak bone mass differs from individual to individual and women who have a high bone mass in early adulthood are less likely to become osteoporotic later in life. Regular exercise, a balanced diet and adequate calcium intake are key ingredients to ensure a high peak bone mass.

Speaking at the first seminar addressing the medical community in Jo'burg on the evening of Tuesday, 16th October, Prof Weaver said that Osteoporosis is not an old women's disease – as popularly believed.

“Whilst the effects of the disease are seen in the elderly population, particularly women, the roots of osteoporosis are laid down in your teenage years. Thus, it is a condition suffered by the geriatric with its roots in pediatrics.

“This simply means that prevention is a much smarter strategy than cure and both women and girls should ensure a sufficient intake of calcium throughout their lives whilst balancing this with adequate weight bearing exercises to reduce their risk of being diagnosed with the disease.”

Addressing the needs of teenage girls specifically, she added that: “50% of bone mass is created during the teenage years. In addition, the ability to absorb calcium is highest in young girls near the onset of their first menstrual period and it is especially important to ensure an adequate intake during this time. She appealed to young women to take a balanced view, saying: “Care for your skins and your shape but understand what's going on with those critical bones and give them the nutrition they need.”

The calcium that we take in through our diets and/or through calcium supplementation accounts for about 15% of skeletal calcium retention (bone growth). Therefore, whilst a large percentage of our bone mass is determined by hereditary aspects, the main factor within our control is the amount of calcium that we take in.

Mothers should also be very aware that shortfalls in calcium intake can increase bone fractures in children of school-going age – this is because if their calcium intake is too low – they become more vulnerable to low bone mass and therefore, the incidence of fractures could increase. It is a fallacy to believe that young children automatically have healthy bones – simply because they are young and have reasonably balanced diets. Western diets do not typically contain sufficient calcium for optimum bone health.1. This is especially true for children during the ‘growth spurt' that they experience. So when their shirts and pants are suddenly too short for their legs and arms - this is when they really need additional calcium to ensure the formation of strong healthy bones. Strong bones during the formative years lay a good foundation for the prevention of osteoporosis later in life. This was confirmed in a study of women who had a high intake of milk during childhood versus those with a low intake, which showed that those with a low milk intake showed less bone mass in adulthood and were at a greater risk of fracture.2. Although most of the calcium is used by the body to build strong bones and healthy teeth, calcium is also involved in several metabolic processes ranging from muscle contraction to regulation of heart beat.

Whether it is increasing their intake of foods rich in calcium, or taking a calcium supplement, the recommended daily intake for children and teenagers between 10 – 18 years of age is 1200 - 1500mg3.There are several sources of food that contain calcium - however it is important to note that a child would need to drink a litre of milk every day to obtain the recommended amount of calcium.

For those of us who are a little past our childhood years – she added: “it's never too early or too late to help those bones along and advised that if you haven't done anything yet – start now.”

For more information about calcium metabolism and Osteoporosis, please contact the Wyeth Consumer Healthcare Information Line on 083 339 2063.