Osteoporosis, Calcium, and Estrogen Activity

[Guest guest]

Understanding Osteoporosis, Calcium, and Estrogen

Activityhttp://www.healingwithnutrition.com/odisease/osteoporosis/calcium_es

trogen.html

 

HealingWithNutrition.com 1-800-943-1123 Home | SiteMap | Education |

Products

Osteoporosis: A Factor Of Aging

(Understanding Calcium and Estrogen Activity)

By: Steven E. Whiting, PhD

 

Osteoporosis Risks and Risk Factors

Osteoporosis or 'porous bone' is a condition that can develop if bone is no

longer replaced as quickly as it is removed. Bone density is influenced by

factors such as heredity, sex, race, physical activity, overall health and

most especially nutritional intake & absorption. One out of every four women

over the age of 60 experience a bone fracture due to osteoporosis and 17

percent of those who sustain a hip fracture die within three months of the

fracture.

Even for those who do not actually fracture bones through falling, the

health problems can be somewhat severe. A simple act of coughing or bending

down can cause painful vertebral fractures that shorten height and lead to

rounding of the spine known as dowager's hump.

Because of this insidious process, it is not uncommon for older people to

lose up to 3 or more inches in height due to skeletal damage and compression

which can lead to nerve problems and increased pain.

We have already discussed age and gender as factors in osteoporosis. Now

let's look at some of the other factors that contribute to this problem.

Heredity: A family history of fractures may indicate a problem with calcium

uptake and absorption. A naturally small frame with less bone mass to begin

with can also accelerate the risk.

 

Physical Impairments: Those with arthritis which limits mobility or those on

medications which make them unsteady or those with poor eyesight, will have

an increased risk of fractures in later life.

 

Nutrition: A diet low in calcium and certain trace minerals combined with a

reduction in the natural hydrochloric acid of the stomach can accelerate the

osteoporosis process by as much as 70% or more, making nutrition the single

greatest factor in the development & progression of the disease.

 

Understanding the Calcium Connection

The majority of the body's calcium is found in the skeletal system. Because

of this there is a constant exchange mechanism between the calcium which is

held in the bones, and the calcium which is in the blood stream. As long as

there is adequate calcium in the blood stream from dietary sources, bone

calcium can remain fairly consistent with calcium being reabsorbed from the

bone and deposited at similar rates. However when blood serum calcium levels

are constantly low, the body reabsorbs calcium into the blood from the bone

faster than it can be deposited back, resulting in a loss of bone mass.

Adequate calcium in the blood is so vital to a wide variety of bodily

functions that our internal biochemistry will not tolerate a deficiency even

for short periods. This is why a deficiency of calcium or a difficulty of

calcium absorption, even for short periods of time, can result in a

significant percent of bone loss.

Unfortunately, this 'bone calcium' is very alkaline and is difficult for the

body to properly acidify for other biochemical functions. Calcium from this

source must circulate in the blood for long periods of time in an attempt to

become acidic enough for use. This explains why those who are calcium

deficient often show high levels of calcium in their blood.

If you show elevated calcium levels in your blood test, and do not have a

condition that can explain it, you almost always are deficient in calcium

and need to increase your intake of this mineral from foods or dietary

supplements.

 

Some of the biochemical functions of calcium in the body are worth

mentioning to illustrate the vital importance of maintaining adequate

bio-available serum calcium on a continual basis. The blood, the heart, the

muscular system, the nervous system, the hormonal system, as well as the

kidneys, and the gastrointestinal system are all affected by calcium and

demand a specific calcium balance.

As calcium is transported back and forth between the body fluids and the

cells of the various systems, control is maintained in each system. The

central nervous system depends on sufficient calcium levels to keep the

nerves functioning properly. Nerve impulses are transmitted down the nerves

to specific body parts so they can perform a given function.

For example, when a person wants to bend their arm, the impulse travels from

the brain down the spinal cord to the nerve which goes to the muscle, which

bends the arm. If the calcium levels in the body become too low, the nerves

become hyper-excited and the muscles go into spasm. If the calcium levels

stay low enough for a long enough period of time, the muscles can go into

tetany, which is a more continuous spasm.

 

Not only does calcium affect the muscles via the nerves, it also has a

profound direct affect on the smooth muscles of the body (especially the

heart). Calcium is directly involved in the cardiac muscle by affecting the

tension in the heart walls which in turn affects the pumping ability of the

heart.

 

The Role of Estrogen

Research has lead to the general agreement among physicians and researchers

that the progression of bone loss can be halted in post menopausal women

with Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT).

In his article for " Let's Live " magazine (February 1989), Dr. David

Steenblock wrote, " A lack of estrogen in post-menopausal women prevents the

absorption and utilization of calcium and is the single most important

factor in the development of osteoporosis in older women. " We can take this

one step further and apply it to males. As men age their testosterone levels

can decrease. Testosterone is converted to estrogen in the male and hence

serves the same function as in women. A lowering of testosterone contributes

to osteoporosis in men as well.

 

Although ERT can reduce the risk of osteoporosis if taken within three to

five years after menopause, according to an article in " Medical Self-Care "

(May/June 1988), taking it also entails increased risk for some kinds of

cancer, heart disease and gall bladder disease. Less serious side effects of

imbalanced ERT therapy can include enlarged and tender breasts, nausea, skin

discoloration, water retention, weight gain, headaches, and digestive

problems.

 

While estrogen, even if administered properly, can prevent further bone

depletion, it does not replace bone that has already been lost. The only way

to regain lost bone mass is through proper nutritional support in the form

of aggressive dietary supplementation.

As mentioned earlier, nutrition is the single greatest factor in either

contributing to or preventing osteoporosis. Let's take a look at the

nutritional factors that show how you can stay ahead of this debilitating

problem through proper prevention.

 

Calcium Absorption and Excretion

Calcium...No discussion of osteoporosis would be viable without a review of

the role calcium plays in the process. Taking calcium supplements all alone

may slow the loss of bone mass, but this will not succeed in replacing bone

that has been lost. The source of calcium will also affect the body's

ability for absorption. Generally, chelates are far better assimilated than

nonchelates which are primarily ground up rock, clays, sea beds, egg shells,

or soils.

Besides looking for chelated supplements, many other factors influence

calcium absorption, among them lifestyle, exercise, dietary intake, and pH

balance of the gastrointestinal tract. Effective calcium absorption begins

in the stomach. If the stomach produces too little stomach acid

(hydrochloric acid), calcium remains insoluble and cannot be ionized, which

is necessary for it to be assimilated in the intestines. Ionization is the

process where an atom changes its structure so that it can combine with

other elements. This is why chelated calcium, like many other chelates, is

much more absorbable: the decreased pH helps ionic bonding which is

necessary for intestinal uptake.

 

The proper level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is so important that

its lack in the digestive process can account for as much as 80 percent loss

of available calcium absorption. Studies show stomach acid secretion

decreases with age, and, " up to 40 percent of post-menopausal women may be

severely deficient in this natural stomach acid, " writes Dr. Joseph Pizzorno

in the recent best selling book,

 

" Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. "

Factors leading to reduced stomach acid include a diet of over-cooked,

over-processed, lifeless foods which no longer contain naturally occurring

enzyme activity, as well as the excess consumption of antacid medications.

Any nutritional program that wishes to properly address osteoporosis and

other conditions caused by a lack of calcium and calcium absorption MUST

include supplements which provide for the adequate replacement of lost

stomach acid.

Other factors that might adversely affect calcium absorption would include:

Poor intestinal health such as those suffering from Crohn's disease,

irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis experience.

 

Mineral imbalance with phosphorus such as might be caused by an over

consumption of high phosphorus foods like meats, processed snack foods and

especially carbonated soft drinks which contain phosphoric acid.

 

Caffeine, which can bind with calcium and through its natural diuretic

action, increase the excretion of many minerals. This diuretic action would

also be a result of excess alcohol consumption.

 

Other Nutrients That Affect Bone Health

While calcium is the primary supplement that comes to mind when considering

bone density, there are many other nutrients which are either related to the

absorption of calcium or play some other pivotal role in bone health &

integrity.

 

Vitamin D: Required for intestinal calcium absorption, reduced vitamin D

levels are common in elderly individuals, especially women. Factors that can

affect vitamin D levels include reduced exposure to sunlight, decreased

dietary intake and absorption problems. Supplementation of vitamin D daily,

as part of a full spectrum formula, should be adequate for most people. An

excess of this vitamin has not shown an increased benefit. The body's use of

vitamin D is enhanced in the presence of magnesium and boron.

 

Magnesium: Is responsible for many biochemical processes within the bone.

Magnesium is essential for the conversion of vitamin D to its biologically

active form. The typical American diet is frequently very low in magnesium.

Many surveys have indicated that over 80 percent of Americans get less than

the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) of this all important mineral.

 

Manganese: This trace mineral is essential for the mineralization of the

bones as well as the production of cartilage and connective tissues. The

best source of manganese in the diet is from grains but as much as 75

percent of all manganese is lost in the refining of wheat to white flour.

 

Zinc: This vital trace mineral is essential for normal bone formation and is

involved in the biochemical activities of vitamin D. Dietary surveys

consistently indicate that as many as 70 percent of all Americans consume

less than two-thirds of the RDI for zinc.

 

Boron: Small amounts of this trace element can greatly enhance the

absorption of calcium via a positive effect upon the hormone levels of the

body. It is estimated that 1 to 2 mg per day is adequate for this mineral.

 

Strontium: Natural strontium occurs in relatively large concentration in

bones and teeth. Fear over this mineral stems from the publicity about

radioactive strontium. However natural organic source strontium is

completely safe and effective in the human biochemistry. Many foods such as

fruits and vegetables are naturally high in this mineral which has been

shown to prevent dental caries while exercising a beneficial effect on

persons with osteoporosis.

 

Copper: Experiments showed that animals fed copper-deficient diets had a

marked reduction in bone mineral content and bone strength. In addition to

playing a vitally important supportive role along with calcium, copper has

been shown to strengthen connective tissue by its effect upon collagen

strands.

 

Why You Need Supplements

The typical American diet, filled with high proportions of refined sugar,

white flour, fats and canned, processed, lifeless foods, contains far less

vitamins and minerals than diets consumed by our ancestors. Additionally,

the requirements for certain nutrients may be dramatically increased through

such factors as genetics, metabolism, and metabolic changes that can occur

at the time of menopause. Exposure to chemical toxins in the air, water, and

food also increase our nutrient usage. A deficiency of any one of the above

nutrients might contribute significantly to osteoporosis.

Deficiencies of a number of different nutrients over a long period of time

may accelerate bone loss. This concept was illustrated in a 1981 clinical

study which showed that adding the certain micro-nutrients to a calcium

supplement reduced bone loss by a significantly greater degree than calcium

alone. This is why you should never fragment nutrition by taking just one or

a few isolated nutrients in the total absence of others. This practice may

result in gross deficiencies of the nutrients not being supplied. The body

demands balance and it can achieve this balance quite nicely when we simply

provide full coverage of all nutrients for the body biochemistry to use.

 

During a clinical study conducted at the University of California at San

Diego by Strauss & Saltman, the researchers actually reversed a loss in bone

density with the right combination of calcium and certain trace minerals

rather than merely halting its progression.

This is the ONLY study ever shown to increase bone density in as little as

24 months...and the minerals used are included in the formula shown below.

 

When taken with a full spectrum nutrition program providing all the relative

nutrients for optimal health, this formula will provide the body with the

extra calcium many of us need in the most highly absorbable environment

possible.

 

This is the ONLY study ever shown to increase bone density in as little as

24 months...and the minerals used are included in the formula shown below.

When taken with a full spectrum nutrition program providing all the relative

nutrients for optimal health, this formula will provide the body with the

extra calcium many of us need in the most highly absorbable environment

possible.

 

" The Formula "

Calcium (citrate, malate, chelates) 400-500 mg

 

Magnesium (chelate) 200-300 mg

 

Potassium (citrate) 200 mg

 

Zinc (gluconate, chelate) 2-4 mg

 

Manganese (gluconate) 2 mg

 

Copper (chelate) 500-800 mcg

 

Boron (chelate) 2 mg

 

Product Note: The BioCalcium supplement we carry has been specifically

formulated to match this successful clinical study formulation.

 

Research References

1. Riggs BL, Melton LJ III. Involutional osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 1986;

314: 1676-1686.

 

2. Recker RR et al. Effect of estrogen and calcium carbonate on bone loss in

postmenopausal women. Ann Intern Med 1977: 87: 649-655.

 

3. Albanese A.A. Calcium in the prevention and management of osteoporosis. J

Nutr. Elderly 1984; 3: 57-65.

 

4. Lee CJ 45 al. Effects of supplementation of the diet with calcium and

calcium-rich foods on bone density of elderly females with osteoporosis. Am

J Clin Nutr 1981; 34: 819-823.

 

5. Riis B, et al. Does calcium supplementation prevent postmenopausal bone

loss? N Engl J Med 1987; 316: 173-177.

 

6. Albanese AA, et al. Effects of calcium and micronutrients on bone loss of

pre and postmenopausal women. Scientific Exhibit presented to the American

Medical Association in Atlanta, Georgia, January 24-26 1981.

 

7. Gallagher, JC, et al. Effect of treatment with synthetic 1, 25 --

dihydroxyvitamin D in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Clon Res 1979; 27: 366A.

 

8. Brauther N. Osteoporosis: Is 1, 25 -- S(OH) 2D3 of value in treatment?

Nephron 1986; 44:161-166.

 

9. Rude Fk. Et al. Low serum concentrations of 1, 24 dihydroxyvitamin D in

human magnesium deficiency. J Clin Endocrinaol Metab 1985; 61: 933-944.

 

10. Morgan KJ, et al. Magnesium and calcium dietary intakes of the US

population. J Am Coll Nutr 1985; 4: 195-206.

 

11. Amdur MO, Norris LC, Heuser GF. The need for manganese in bone

development by the rat. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1945; 59: 254-255.

 

12. Raloff J, Reasons for boning up on manganese. Science News 1986; (Sept

27); 199.

 

13. Neilsen FH, et al. Effect of dietary boron on mineral, estrogen, and

testosterone metabolism in post-menopausal women, FASEB J 1987; 394-397.

 

14. Strontium and dental caries. Nutr Rev 1983; 41: 342-344.

 

15. McCaslin FE Jr, James JM. The effect of strontium lactate in the

treatment of osteoporosis. Proc Staff Meetings Mayo Clin 1959; 34: 329-334.

 

16. Marie PJ, Hott M. Short-term effects of fluoride and strontium on bone

forming and bone reabsorbing cells in the mouse. Calcif Tissue Int 1985; 38

(Suppl): S17.

 

17. Schroeder HA, Tipton IH, Nason AP. Trace metals in man: Strontium and

barium. J Chronic Dis 1972; 25: 491-517.

 

18. Atik OS. Zinc and senile osteoporosis. J Am Geriatr Soc 1983; 31:

790-791.

 

19. Holden JM, et al. Zinc and copper in self-selected diets. J Am Diet

Assoc 1979; 75: 23-28.

 

20. Follis FH, et al. Studies on copper metabolism XVIII. Skeletal changes

associated with copper deficiency in swine. John Hopkins Hosp Bull 1955; 97:

405-409.

 

21. Wilson T, Katz JM. Gray DH. Inhibition of active bone reabsorption by

copper. Cacif Tissue Int 1981; 33: 35-39.

 

22. Mahoney AW, Hendricks DG. Role of gastric acid in the utilization of

dietary calcium by the rat. Nutr Metabol 1974; 16: 375-382.

 

23. Hunt JN, Johnson C. Relation between gastric secretion of acid and

urinary excretion of calcium after oral supplements of calcium. Dig Dis Sci

1983; 28: 417-421.

 

24. Strauss, Saltman PD. Spinal bone loss in postmenopausal women

supplemented with calcium and trace mineral. Jour Nutr. 1994; 124:

1064-1064.

[Guest guest]

Hi Elaine

 

Here is a better formula! It has ipriflavone and vit. K

To truly build bones and keep calcium in suspension.

http://store./vitanet/calwitip180c.html

 

Six capsules contain:

calcium (MCHA), 600 mg.

calcium (citrate/malate), 600 mg.

ipriflavone, 500 mg.

horsetail extract (5:1), 300 mg.

magnesium (aspartate), 115 mg.

manganese (aspartate), 30 mg.

zinc (picolinate), 30 mg.

copper (glycinate), 2.5 mg.

boron (glycinate), 2 mg.

vitamin C (as ascorbyl palmitate), 22 mg.

vitamin D3, 400 IU

vitamin K1, 500 mcg.

 

 

 

>

>

> " The Formula "

> Calcium (citrate, malate, chelates) 400-500 mg

>

> Magnesium (chelate) 200-300 mg

>

> Potassium (citrate) 200 mg

>

> Zinc (gluconate, chelate) 2-4 mg

>

> Manganese (gluconate) 2 mg

>

> Copper (chelate) 500-800 mcg

>

> Boron (chelate) 2 mg

>

> Product Note: The BioCalcium supplement we carry has been specifically

> formulated to match this successful clinical study formulation.