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1st appeared
31
March 2000
Government Panel Addresses Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Nutrition, exercise, and medicines can play important roles in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, according to an independent, non-government consensus panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Panel members acknowledged that maintaining optimal bone health is a lifelong process for men and women that begins in childhood. The panel issued its statement at the conclusion of a three-day NIH Consensus Development Conference on Osteoporosis Prevention, Diagnosis, and Therapy. The conference, held March 27-29, at the NIH, brought together national and international experts to present the latest research findings on osteoporosis, a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture. Four faculty from UCSF presented information at the conference. They were:
"Osteoporosis occurs in all populations and at all ages and is a devastating disorder with significant physical, psychosocial and financial consequences," said panel chair Anne Klibanski, MD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. About 10 million people in the United States have osteoporosis, making it the most prevalent metabolic bone disorder in this country. An additional 18 million individuals already have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for this disorder. "Osteoporosis is commonly the result of bone loss," said Klibanski. "It may also occur in individuals who do not achieve adequate bone mass during childhood and adolescence." She added that bone mass attained during childhood is perhaps the most important determinant of life-long skeletal health, a fact that is under-appreciated. Achieving optimum bone mass early in life reduces the impact of bone loss related to aging. Genetic factors exert a strong influence on peak bone mass, but controllable environmental and lifestyle factors also play a role. These include good nutrition, particularly adequate calcium and vitamin intakes. Only 10 percent of girls and 25 percent of boys between ages 9 and 17 obtain an adequate amount of calcium in their diet through the consumption of dairy products and vegetables. There is strong evidence that physical activity early in life contributes to higher peak bone mass. Clinical trials have shown that exercise reduces the risk of falls by approximately 25 percent. Falls are a major cause of fractures in people with osteoporosis. Although hormone replacement therapy remains a common treatment and prevention option, the panel suggested that more information is needed on how estrogen alone or in combination with other treatments reduces the incidence of fractures. New technologies have improved the detection of loss of bone mineral, a key predictor of osteoporotic fracture. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the standard for measuring bone mineral density of the hip. Other measures of bone strength, such as ultrasound of the heel, are as effective in predicting hip fracture. However, the panel recognized that no standard exists for comparing different devices. The full NIH Consensus Statement on Osteoporosis Prevention, Diagnosis, and Therapy is available by calling 1-888-NIH-CONSENSUS (1-888-644-2667) or by visiting the NIH Consensus Development Program Website. |
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