Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease which primarily affects the skeletal system of the elderly, with the most severe effects being seen in women, generally after menopause. More than half the fractures seen in adults are related to osteoporosis. Women, however, are from two to four times as likely to suffer an osteoporotic fracture (Christiansen, 1990, p. 87). Osteoporosis is a condition in which the density of the bones is so low that they easily fracture. The most common fractures are of the wrist, femur, and spine; however, other fractures to the ribs and pelvis may also result (Stevenson, 1990, p. 11).

Aloia (1989, pp. 27-28) has identified the risk factors for osteoporosis. These risk factors can be classified as either modifiable or nonmodifiable. The nonmodifiable risk factors for osteoporosis follow:

Having a family history of the disease.

Experiencing previous bone loss from immobilization, hyperparathyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, liver disease, malabsorption, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic illness, or glucocorticoids and other drugs.

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verall, the study showed a significant increase in bone mineral content in the patients. Another study (Stevensen, p. 15) emphasized the importance of weight-bearing exercise and found that non-weight-bearing exercise had no significant effect on bone density. The beneficial effects of calcium therapy are not as clear. Studies conducted at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska showed that the calcium intake required to prevent calcium loss from the body is 500 milligrams higher in postmenopausal women. This type of finding is only considered suggestive. Other studies conflict concerning the benefits of calcium. Two clinical trials concluded that calcium supplementation was not as effective as estrogen at preventing bone loss (Aloia, pp. 57-58). Calcium should be seen as interacting with other factors rather than as a panacea in treating osteoporosis (Aloia, p. 69). Although calcium improves bone health, absorbing calcium is difficult. Three studies (Heaney, et al., 1982) found that the typical U.S. male consumes from 1.2 to 2.0 times as much calcium as the U.S. female, with the greatest differences between ages 15 and 50. Persons below the poverty level also ingest less calcium in their diets. The studies also fo
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