Taking calcium by young girls reduces their Osteoporosis risk
Jan 27
[Health India]: Washington, Jan 27 : A new research by The Ohio State University Medical Center researchers suggests that a calcium boost to young bones could reduce the risk of Osteoporosis – a disease in which the bones become extremely porous and are subject to fracture, heal slowly and often leading to curvature of the spine from vertebral collapse.
The study, which is the first to track calcium’s effects on bone density in girls aged 8-13 years, suggests that the efforts to prevent osteoporosis, generally considered a geriatric disease among women, could actually start before puberty.
The findings published in the January issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the Journal of Nutrition suggest that elevated calcium use by pre-adolescent girls is likely to help prevent fractures and osteoporosis much later in life, said Velimir Matkovic, lead author of the study.
“Because most bone mass is accumulated during this phase of growth, pre-adolescence may represent the time of highest need for calcium in a female’s lifetime,” Matkovic said.
According to the researchers prevention of this disease will not only improve the population’s quality of life, but will also save on the health care costs associated with treatment. A stronger skeleton at a younger age can ensure better bone health in later years.
“We advocate development of a healthy skeleton throughout life,” Matkovic said.
During the course of study the calcium-supplemented group showed a faster rate of bone mass development. The biggest difference in bone mineral density between the supplemented and non- supplemented groups of girls occurred from between one year before and one year after the onset of menstruation. By young adulthood, significant effects remained at the metacarpals in the hands, the forearm and the hip.
The researchers noted that the calcium requirement for growth is body-size specific; taller individuals need more calcium during growth than shorter individuals.
The pubertal growth spurt accounts for about 37 percent of the gain in the entire adult skeletal mass, meaning inadequate calcium intake during this period compromises the bone mineral accumulation rate, Matkovic said. (ANI)
