Osteoporosis affects approximately one in four women and one in eight men in North America. As a result, medical research is focused on new bone-building nutrients, particularly those that support the beneficial effects of calcium and vitamin D. Researchers at the...
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Many women lack vitamin K for bones
The levels of vitamin K in healthy menopausal women are inadequate to maintain bone health, says the lead researcher of a recent study from the University of Michigan School of Nursing. The researchers found that one early effect of declining estrogen is the...
Vitamin D and the Sun: Dermatology association provides guidelines
There has been some confusion about the amount of sun exposure required to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D, according to the Canadian Dermatology Association. "People are hearing many different recommendations, some of which can be misleading," says Dr Cheryl...
The Gluten Connection: Celiac disease related to osteoporosis, researchers find
Rates of celiac disease are significantly higher in patients with osteoporosis, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. They recommend using blood tests to screen osteoporosis patients for celiac disease because their study...
The B for Your Bones: Low vitamin B-12 levels linked to osteoporosis
New research conducted by Katherine Tucker, PhD, of Tufts University, examined dietary factors in relation to osteoporosis and uncovered a positive association between vitamin B-12 and bone health. In other words, the authors conclude that vitamin B-12 deficiency may...
Start Calcium Early: Study shows supplements before puberty help later on
New research on calcium and bone development suggests that efforts to prevent osteoporosis could actually start before puberty. In the study at The Ohio State University Medical Center, researchers found that calcium supplementation significantly increased bone mass...
Omega fats prevent bone loss
The average North American gets too many omega-6 fatty acids and not enough omega-3 fatty acids, at a ratio of approximately 10:1. However, a much lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids —a ratio of 5:1 — is believed to promote cardiovascular health, improve...
Pill Protection: Extra calcium counters bone loss from oral contraceptives
Women who take oral contraceptives can counteract bone loss by making sure they have enough calcium in their daily diet, especially early in life, according to Purdue University research. Earlier research has indicated that optimizing bone mass in adolescence and...
Soy protein helps strengthen bones
Postmenopausal women who consumed high daily levels of soy protein had reduced risk of bone fracture, according to a new study. Xianglan Zhang, MD, MPH, from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine examined the relationship between soy food consumption and bone...
Many Women Lack D: Finding underscores need for education, say researchers
Low vitamin D status often may be overlooked by doctors, leading to inadequate vitamin D supplementation in patients with osteoporosis, say researchers. A study of 1,554 postmenopausal women showed that 52% of these women had suboptimal vitamin D concentrations. Most...