Osteoporosis (brittle bone disease)
From The Nutritional Health Bible by Linda Lazarides (1997). This free database is provided for interest only. Linda's later writings refer to more up-to-date research.
Some causative factors- Excess caffeine consumption
- Excess phosphorus-containing food additives
- Excess protein consumption
- Excess salt consumption
- Excess sugar consumption
- Lack of exercise
- Nutritional deficiencies, especially magnesium, calcium, boron, and vitamins D and K.
Magnesium deficiency may be important in the development of osteoporosis. Dalderup LM: The role of magnesium in osteoporosis and idiopathic hypercalcaemia. Voeding 21:424-434, 1960
Serum vitamin K levels were found to be much lower in 51 elderly women with hip fractures compared with controls. A large number had undetectable levels of vitamin K. The investigators conclude that elderly patients with hip fracture have vitamin K deficiency. Hodges SJ et al: Circulating levels of vitamins K1 and K2 decreased in elderly women with hip fracture. J Bone Miner Res 8(10):1241-5, 1993
Those who followed a lactovegetarian diet for at least 20 years had only 18% less bone mineral by age 80 compared with 35% less bone in matched meat-eaters. Marsh AG et al: Vegetarian lifestyle and bone mineral density. Am J Clin Nutr 48(3 Suppl):837-41, 1988.
In an analysis of 560 calcium balance studies carried out on 190 women aged 34-69, it was found that to maintain calcium balance, an additional intake of 40 mg calcium is required for every 6 fluid ounce (177.5 ml) serving of caffeine-containing coffee consumed. Barger-Lux MJ et al: Caffeine and the calcium economy revisited. Osteoporos Int 5(2):97-102, 1995.
In a study on 13 individuals consuming a beverage containing 2 grams of added sugar per kilo body weight, it was found that there were significant calcium losses in urine. Holl MG et al: Sucrose ingestion, insulin response and mineral metabolism in humans. J Nutr 117(7):1229-33, 1987.
The intake of 14 nutrients was measured in 159 women aged 23-75 and compared with bone mineral density. No correlation with calcium intake was found. Higher bone density was associated with higher intakes of iron, zinc and magnesium. Angus RM et al: Dietary intake and bone mineral density. Bone Miner 4(3):265-77, 1988.
Recent studies in young women have shown that a diet high in phosphorus (which is often hidden in the form of food additives) and moderately low in calcium results in the over-secretion of parathyroid hormone, leading to increased calcium losses from bone which can persist for four weeks. Calvo MS: The effeects of high phosphorus intake on calcium homeostasis. Adv Nutr Res 9:183-207, 1994.
Promising nutritional researchHealthy older postmenopausal women with a daily calcium intake of less than 400 mg can significantly reduce bone loss by increasing their calcium intake to 800 mg per day. Dawson-Hughes B et al: A controlled trial of the effect of calcium supplementation on bone density in postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med 328:878-83, 1990.
Vitamin K is required for mineralization of the bone matrix and if supplemented can help to increase the bone mass. Price PA: Vitamin K nutrition and postmenopausal osteoporosis. J Clin Invest 91(4):1268, 1993. Douglas AS et al: Carboxylation of osteocalcin in post-menopausal osteoporotic women following vitamin K and D supplementation. Bone 17(1)15-20, 1995
Undercarboxylation of bone protein (a factor which promotes osteoporosis) is frequently found in postmenopausal women. Supplementation of these women with vitamin K results in an increase in these markers for bone formation, and a reduction in bone loss. Vermeer C et al: Effects of vitamin K on bone mass and bone metabolism. J Nutr 126(4 Suppl):1187S-91S, 1996.
The effect of magnesium-emphasized supplementation on bone density in a group of postmenopausal women on hormone-replacement therapy was 16 times greater than that of dietary advice alone. Abraham GE: The importance of magesium in the management of primary postmenopausal osteoporosis. J Nutr Med 2:165-178, 1991.
The supplementation of 12 postmenopausal women with boron reduced the total plasma concentration of calcium and the urinary excretion of calcium and magnesium and elevated the serum concentrations of oestradiol and testosterone. Nielsen FH: Biochemical and physiologic consequences of boron deprivation in humans. Environ Health Perspect 102 Suppl 7:59-63, 1994.
The published literature does not support the value of calcium megadoses against post-menopausal osteoporosis. Magnesium supplementation may be more important. When a magnesium-emphasizing programme was given to 19 postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy, a significant increase in mineral bone density occurred within one year. Abraham GE et al: A total dietary program emphasizing magnesium instead of calcium. Effect on the mineral density of calcaneous bone in postmenopausal women on hormone therapy. J Reprod Med 35(5):503-7, 1990.
In a controlled trial on 31 healthy women aged 50-73 years assessing the effeects of an exercise programme on bone density, it was found that the lumbar spine bone mineral content of the exercise group increased by 3.5% while in the control group it decreased by 2.7%. Krolner B et al: Physical exercise as prophylaxis against involutional vertebral bone loss: a controlled trial. Clin Sci 64(5):541-6, 1983.
Available evidence indicates that postmenopausal women should consume 1,000-1,500 mg of calcium and 400-800 iu of vitamin D daily to minimize bone loss. Vitamin D appears to enhance the effectiveness of supplemental calcium. Dawson-Hughes B et al: Calcium and vitamin D nutritional needs of elderly women. J Nutr 126 (4 Suppl):1165S-7S, 1996.
59 healthy postmenopausal women were given calcium supplements, calcium plus zinc, manganese and copper, or placebo, and the rate of bone loss was evaluated over two years. The only significant difference occurred between the placebo and calcium plus trace mineral groups, suggesting that bone loss in calcium-supplemented postmenopausal women can be further arrested by also administering trace minerals. Strause L et al: Spinal bone loss in postmenopausal women supplemented with calcium and trace minerals. J Nutr 124(7):1060-4, 1994.