Osteoporosis The Brittle Issue Of The Bones!

The Indian diet does not lack calcium which is found in foods such as milk, dahi, lassi, curd rice, paneer etc. However, the lack of vitamin D means that calcium is not utilized efficiently as the presence of both nutrients are required for optimal bone growth, formation and maintenance.

- Dr Manbeena Chawla

Women are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis than men. It is estimated that more than 61 million Indians have osteoporosis; of these, 80 per cent patients are females. This is because changes in hormone levels can affect bone density. Female hormone estrogen is essential for healthy bones. After the menopause, the level of estrogen in the body falls, and this can lead to a rapid decrease in bone density.

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures annually across the globe. This translates into an osteoporotic fracture every three seconds. As we age, the rate of loss of minerals in the bones overtakes the rate of bone formation. By the time we reach our sunset years, this bone depletion has become so enormous that the bones are almost fragile or porous, hence the term osteoporosis or ‘disease of the porous bones’.

“Osteoporosis awareness is disappointingly low among the urban Indian population, with only 10-15 per cent having an informed picture of the disease. Awareness appears to be better in urban women as compared to men, with younger adult women being more knowledgeable as compared to postmenopausal. Osteoporotic fractures in Indians, occur 10-15 years ahead of their occurrence in Caucasians, and the disease itself is debilitating and irreversible. That is, it can only be prevented or its onset deferred, and its severity reduced”, explains Dr Raksha Changappa, Specialist Clinical Dietitian.