What is it? Osteoporosis is a condition in which thinning and weakening of the bones causes the bones to break more easily, especially in the hip, spine and wrist.

How common is it? There are 1.4 million Canadians who have osteoporosis. One in four women over the age of 50 and one in eight men over the age of 50 has osteoporosis.

What is the impact of it? The cost of treating osteoporosis and the fractures it causes is estimated to be $1.3 billion each year in Canada. There are approximately 18,000 hip fractures due to osteoporosis in Canada each year. Hip fractures can often cause a loss of independence and 20% of women will die within 1 year after a hip fracture.

How do we prevent it? Building strong bones in childhood and young adulthood is the best way to prevent osteoporosis. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D through diet or supplements is important for building strong bones. Weight–bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, and strength training help make our bones stronger. Smoking can cause significantly thinner bones. Caffeine intake of over 4 cups of coffee per day can also increase the risk of hip fractures. Excessive alcohol intake (more than 2 drinks per day) also contributes to bone loss.

How much Calcium and Vitamin D do we need? Daily calcium requirements are: children between the ages of 4 and 8 - 800mg; adolescents (9-18 years) - 1300mg; adults (19-50 years old) - l000mg; and over the age of 50 – 1500mg. Adults under 50 need 400 IU of vitamin D per day, and adults over the age of 50 need 800 IU of vitamin D per day.

How do we get enough Calcium? The best source of dietary calcium is milk products. An 8-ounce glass of milk provides around 300mg of calcium. A calcium calculator is available at www.osteoporosis.ca to determine how much calcium you are getting in your diet. If you are not able to get enough calcium through your diet you can take calcium supplements. It is important to check the label to see how much elemental calcium is in each tablet. (It is elemental calcium which is listed in daily requirements). Ask your pharmacist to help you select a calcium supplement that would be right for you.

How do we get enough Vitamin D? Sunlight on the skin provides vitamin D. There are a lot of people in Canada who do not get enough vitamin D because we don’t have enough sunlight during winter months. Also older people are not able to convert the sun’s rays to vitamin D as easily as younger people. Milk contains 100 IUs of vitamin D per 8-ounce glass. Since it may be difficult to get enough vitamin D from food or sunlight you may want to consider a vitamin D supplement.

Who should be tested for osteoporosis? Osteoporosis Canada recommends all post-menopausal women and men older than 50 are reviewed for the presence of risk factors for osteoporosis. People with one major or two minor risk factors should be referred by a physician for bone-mineral density (BMD) test.

What are the major risk factors for osteoporosis?
1. Age over 65 years
2. Broken bone caused by a minor injury after 40 years of age
3. Family history
4.Glucosteroid (e.g. prednisone) therapy of greater than 3 months
5. Fracture in the spine not caused by external injury.
6 Early menopause (before age 45)
7. Fall easily

What are the minor risk factors for osteoporosis?
1. Rheumatoid arthritis
2. Low dietary calcium intake
3. Smoking
4. Excessive alcohol intake
5. Excessive caffeine intake
6. Weight less than 126lbs

Are there treatments available for osteoporosis? There are several treatment options available to your physician if you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis.

If you have risk factors for osteoporosis, be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D. Make necessary lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, caffeine and alcohol reduction and quitting smoking to lower your risks for osteoporosis. If you are prescribed medication for osteoporosis, make sure you take it regularly and discuss with your pharmacist the correct time to take it.