Archive for the ‘Osteoporosis’ Category

Women’s Health Blog: Relationship Between Thiazolidinediones and Fractures in Women with Type-2 Diabetes

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism published a study that shows that  women who take Thiazolidinediones for the treatment of Type-2 diabetes may be at a higher risk for developing bone fractures. The study was conducted by researchers at the Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan frm January 2000 to May 2007 on approximately 19,000 Henry Ford patients. The study included an almost even split of women and men participants.

The study basically found that women were 50% more likely to have a bone fracture after taking thiazolidinedione for one year than patients not on thiazolidinediones and the greatest risk for fractures was for older women, 65 years and older, who were taking thiazolidinedion. The older age group risk factors were perhaps due to the fact that as it is, older women face a higher risk of
osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital.

The most interesting part of the study was that the fractures found in women using thiazolidinedione were in the upper and lower extremities. But typically, osteoporosis-related fractures are found in the vertebra and hip.
 
Also, the study found that the men  an increased risk for fractures even if they were taking Thiazolidinedioneson, not even in older men.

All in all, it can be safely concluded that women taking Thiazolidinediones for treating type-2 diabetes must make sure that they talk to their doctors about the increased risks for developing fractures.

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   Posted by Dr. Douglas Gearity  |  Posted in Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Women's Health | No Comments »

Women’s Health Blog: Bone Density Loss From DMPA Birth Control

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Depo Provera or Depo Medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) is a contraceptive injection for women.  DMPA injections are given every three months and is obviously an efficient way of preventing unwanted pregnancies.  About 400,000 teenagers and over two million Americans use DMPA.
 
A recent study published in the January issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology finds that DMPA usage lead to 5 percent or more bone mineral density loss in 45 percent of the women who participated in the study. Women who smoke, who've never been pregnant, and women who don't take calcium are at even greater risk of losing significant bone mass.
 
So why is this of concern?

Well, hip fractures are the most common in older women and so if this bone mass loss due to DMPA may take a long time to recover.
 
Almost half of all women who use a popular injected contraceptive lose a significant amount of bone mass within two years, and researchers now say the greatest risk is to smokers, women who don’t consume enough calcium and those who have never gone through a pregnancy.

However, the good news is that the risk declines by 19 percent for every 100 milligrams (mg) of calcium taken per day. 

So. If you are interested in taking DMPA injections, be sure to first quit smoking and then begin taking your daily recommended Calcium to prevent bone density loss.

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   Posted by Dr. Douglas Gearity  |  Posted in Osteoporosis, Women's Health | No Comments »

Women’s Health Blog: Vitamin D Deficiency & Your Health

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

I felt it was important to continue focusing on the need for Vitamin D for better women's health. So here are my thoughts on diseases and health conditions that are caused by Vitamin D deficiency and why Vitamin D should be an important supplement for you to take:
 
Osteoporosis due to lack of vitamin D is common because lack of Vitamin D impairs calcium absorption. When you have sufficient vitamin D, you have a reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, depression, colon cancer and schizophrenia.

All of us know that Rickets or the bone-degenerative disease often found in malnourished children is caused by a Vitamin D deficiency.

People with Type 2 Diabetes may find themselves even more ill if they are deficient in Vitamin D as it impairs the production of insulin in the pancreas.

Other conditions like Psoriasis, schizophrenia, and fibromyalgia are also related to Vitamin D deficiency. By regular exposure to morning sunlight only 2-3 times a day for 10-20 minutes, you can prevent some of these conditions.

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   Posted by Dr. Douglas Gearity  |  Posted in Osteoporosis, Women's Health | No Comments »

Women’s Health Blog: Daily Calcium PLUS Vitamin D Reduces Bone Fracture Risk.

Monday, January 18th, 2010

It's good to take vitamin D and calcium daily. Whether you are old or young, male or female, have had fractures in the past or not, taking vitamin D and Calcium daily helps reduce the risk of bone fractures according to John Robbins, a U.S. researcher at
the University of California, Davis. These findings were reported in a study in which approximately 70,000 patients from the United States and Europe participated. The study also had data from clinical trials that were conducted at the University of California, Davis.
 
According to John Robbins, the study's co-author, the new findings help resolve conflicting data about the role of vitamin D as it relates to reducing the risk of fractures. The study included over 1000 postmenopausal women who were healthy and who took Vitamin D and Calcium together. They had better bone health from taking the combination.

So
So if you aren't taking Calcium today, what's stopping you? Begin taking Calcium and Vitamin D for long term bone health. It can save your life and the life of your loved ones so pass the word to your friends and family. And don't forget to call your doctor if you have any concerns or questions about dosage, frequency, etc. and if you feel you need to be tested for osteoporosis.

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   Posted by Dr. Douglas Gearity  |  Posted in Osteoporosis, Women's Health | No Comments »

Women’s Health Blog: Which Calcium is better for you?

Friday, January 8th, 2010

So you know you need to take Calcium for better bone health. But which Calcium is better? What are some of things to keep in mind when choosing a Calcium supplement for yourself?

Should you take Calcium Citrate or should you take Calcium Carbonate? What is the difference? What does Elemental Calcium mean? Which Calcium is absorbed better?

Ok, here goes:

Absorption: Calcium Citrate is acidic based and Calcium Carbonate is alkaline based. Calcium Citrate is the most absorbable form of calcium because it needs an acidic environment for absorption. Calcium Citrate can be taken at any time of the day and even on an empty stomach. Calcium Citrate on the other is requires more stomach acid for better absorption and therefore should be taken with an acidic juice such as orange juice immediately after meals.

Elemental Calcium: Elemental Calcium is the amount of calcium found in a product. Calcium Carbonate has more elemental calcium than Calcium Citrate. Therefore, more of calcium citrate may be needed to meet the daily allowance. Calcium Carbonate comes in larger pill sizes; Calcium Citrate comes in smaller pill sizes. Tums contains Calcium Carbonate.

Adults should take between 1000 mg to 1300 mg of Calcium as recommended by The Dietary Reference Intake or DRI.  You must not exceed 2500 mg of elemental calcium on a daily basis.

So read the supplement labels and determine the amount of calcium you will be getting when you take Calcium Carbonate versus Calcium Citrate. Be sure to take Calcium supplements if your diet doesn't contain enough dairy or other foods that contain calcium.

Remember, for good bone health,  you need to have enough calcium in your diet…..

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   Posted by Dr. Douglas Gearity  |  Posted in Osteoporosis, Women's Health | 1 Comment »

Women’s Health Blog – What does Flaxseed Oil have to do with Osteoporosis?

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

A report to be published in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health discusses a study that was undertaken to understand the effect flaxseed oil on Osteoporosis.

Doctors at the National Research Center in Cairo, Egypt studied the effect of Flaxseed Oil on female albino rats, some whose ovaries had been removed and some rats who had experimental diabetes. They found that onset of Osteoporosis was delayed when flaxseed oil was added to the diet of these experimental rats.

The researchers also concluded that diabetes in post- menopausal women was a bigger risk factor than even the low levels of estrogen in post-menopausal women.

I wouldn’t be in a rush to add flaxseed oil to my diet just yet. More studies and clinical trials to validate the findings above are necessary. However, improving your diet, doing exercise which includes weight training and taking calcium and vitamin D are just some of the simple changes you can make to reduce your risk for developing Osteoporosis.

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   Posted by Dr. Douglas Gearity  |  Posted in Osteoporosis | No Comments »

Women’s Health Blog – Why should you get a DEXA Scan?

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

A Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scan or DEXA scan can help detect Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis a disease which causes bones to thin, affects millions of Americans. People suffering from Osteoporosis suffer frequent, painful and disabling fractures.

Although anyone can get Osteoporosis, patients with family history of Osteoporosis are at greater risk for developing Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis risk is also greater in post-menopausal women who do not undergo hormone replacement therapy to replace loss of estrogen.

There are other conditions that cause higher risk of Osteoporosis including lack of Vitamin D or Calcium, smoking habits, lack of weight training exercises, etc.

Since prevention is always a better option, screening for Osteoporosis is highly recommended.

So get a DEXA scan if you are over the age of 60 or if you are at increased risk for Osteoporosis due to hereditary or other reasons.

And don’t forget that some simple measures like weight bearing exercises, smoking cessation and taking calcium and vitamin D daily can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

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   Posted by Dr. Douglas Gearity  |  Posted in Osteoporosis | No Comments »

Women’s Health Blog – Kaiser Permanente Study reveals that Bone density scanning helps reduce hip fractures

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Research conducted by the National Osteoporosis Foundation shows that postmenopausal women have low bone density. A patient with low bone density has a higher risk of osteoporosis.

The Journal of bone & Joint Surgery published a study that showed that hip fracture rates could be reduced by 25% if patients who were high-risk for osteoporosis were subjected to bone density screening and preventative care from orthopedic doctors.

Bone Density Screening allows patients to become aware of their risk for osteoporosis. We recommend that postmenopausal women get a bone-density check to identify their risk for osteoporosis so that with preventative care; they can manage and reduce their risk for developing fractures.

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   Posted by Dr. Douglas Gearity  |  Posted in Osteoporosis | 2 Comments »