Anna Miggiani 

 

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is the term which is used to describe porous bone. It is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced leading to weakness of the skeleton and an increased risk of fracture, particularly of the spine, wrist, hip, pelvis and upper arm. As a result, bones may easily break from a minor fall or even from a simple action like sneezing or bumping into furniture.

Osteoporosis is common and approximately 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

In women over 45, osteoporosis accounts for more days in hospital than other diseases, include diabetes, myocardial infarction and breast cancer.

 In women the bone loss increases after menopause, when estrogen levels drop sharply.

 

What can be done to protect bones?

It is important to get enough calcium and Vitamin D and to eat a well balanced diet, avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake.

 

What is Calcium and what does it do?

Calcium is a mineral that is necessary for life. In addition to building bones and keeping them healthy, calcium helps blood clot, nerves send messages and muscles contract.  The body cannot produce new calcium which is lost every day.

The amount of calcium needed every day depends on age and gender.

 

Women
Age 50 & younger	1,000 mg* daily
Age 51 & older	1,200 mg* daily

 

Men
Age 70 & younger	1,000 mg* daily
Age 71 & older	1,200 mg* daily

 

 

 

*This includes the total amount of calcium (as elemental calcium) from food and supplements.

Calcium supplements are available over the counter in a wide range of preparations including chewable tablets. When choosing a supplement it is important to bear in mind the amount of elemental calcium in the preparation and not the salt.

 

 

Sources of Vitamin D

• Sunlight
• Food
• Supplements

 

 

Women and Men
Under age 50	400-800 international units (IU) daily**
Age 50 and older	800-1,000 IU daily**

 

**Some people need more vitamin D. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the safe upper limit of vitamin D is 4,000 IU per day for most adults.

 

 

Sunlight

The skin makes vitamin D from the ultra-violet light (UVB rays) in sunlight. The body is able to store the vitamin and use it later.

 

Food

Vitamin D is naturally available in only a few food. It is very difficult to get all the vitamin D needed from food alone. Most people need to take vitamin D supplements to get enough of the nutrient needed for bone health.

 

Supplements

Many calcium supplements also contain vitamin D.

 

Ideos

Ideos is a chewable Calcium and Vitamin D supplement containing 500mg elemental calcium and 400IU Vit D.

The dose of Ideos is 2 tables daily taken in divided doses for maximum absorption.