Heart Disease: Brittle bones may lead to heart disease

'What are your latest recommendations for treating osteoporosis in women aged 80 and above?'

An HSI member named Wendy sent that question. And I've got two important tips for Wendy and anyone (male or female) who's at risk of developing osteoporosis: One is a dietary factor to avoid, and one is a key nutrient that most of us need more of.

But before I address osteoporosis treatments, we'll look at a new study that reveals how osteoporosis and another serious health problem may be closely linked. In fact, this is an important and dangerous connection that women especially need to be aware of.

Osteoporosis may predict heart disease in women
 
Research has already shown that coronary artery disease (CAD) and low bone mineral density (BMD) have certain risk factors in common. But should low BMD be considered a red flag warning of CAD development?

That question was recently put to the test by researchers at the Ministrelli Women's Heart Center and the William Beaumont Hospital; both in Michigan in the US. Researchers examined test results in more than 200 subjects (mostly women) who had x-ray bone testing and catheterisation within the same 12-month period. (Catheterisation provides a highly effective way to examine coronary arteries for blockage.)

More than 100 subjects were found to have coronary heart disease. When the results of the two types of tests were compared, subjects with CAD were much more likely to have low bone mineral density and a diagnosis of osteoporosis. More importantly, osteoporosis provided a stronger predictor of CAD than traditional risk factors such as hypertension and family history of CAD.

The conclusion: 'Low bone mineral density appears to independently predict significant coronary artery disease in women.' In a Reuters Health interview, lead author of the study, Dr. Pamela A. Marcovitz suggested that women with brittle bones should be screened for heart disease. She added that when low BMD is aggressively treated, perhaps CAD should be monitored to see if it improves.

The vitamin combo that aids calcium absorption

Now, to return to Wendy's question about treating osteoporosis, we'll start with the obvious: calcium, the mineral that's on the front line of osteoporosis prevention. What's not quite so obvious or well known is that calcium is often poorly absorbed. That problem can be alleviated with magnesium, which helps improve calcium absorption. But there's still another important nutrient we can add.

In a previous e-alert I told you about a three-year study that compared B-12 levels with BMD in more than 80 women over the age of 65. US researchers at the University of California found that women with the lowest levels of B-12 had a significantly higher risk of bone loss and fractures compared to women with the highest levels.

Another American study used data collected from the Framingham Offspring Osteoporosis Study. When Tufts University researchers examined the association between BMD and B-12 levels in more than 2,500 men and women, they found that subjects of either gender who had B-12 concentrations of less than 148 pM, had significantly lower BMD on average compared to subjects with B-12 over 148 pM. ('pM' is a gram-fraction measurement, and '148 pM' designates the cutoff point between an adequate B-12 level and B-12 deficiency.)

The Tufts team concluded: 'B-12 deficiency may be an important modifiable risk factor for osteoporosis.'

Exercise to strengthen your skeleton

Apart from supplementing with minerals and vitamins there is something else you can do to strengthen your bones exercise. The National Osteoporosis Society offers these bone boosting exercises to keep you fit whatever your age.

Stair-climbing This is a much under-rated exercise. Take one flight at a time and build up your stamina over time.

Tai Chi This Chinese martial art is good for improving posture and balance, lessening the chance of falling.

Line dancing Dancing in general can be good for improving muscle strength.

Exercise from your armchair Sounds like my kind of exercise! But its true. There are many chair-based exercises you can do to improve muscle strength and prevent falls.

For more information you can contact the National Osteoporosis Society at http://www.nos.org.uk/

. . and another thing

Doctors and diabetics take note: This is something you should be on the lookout for.

The title of a report from a recent meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology neatly sums up an important warning for all diabetics: 'New Study Confirms Diabetics Face Significantly Higher Risks Of Colorectal Cancer.'

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina, US, used data gathered over a seven-year period as part of the National Health Interview Survey. An analysis of health profiles from nearly 227,000 subjects showed that diabetics had almost one-and-a-half times greater risk of colon cancer compared to people who were not diabetic.

One of the authors of the study, Dr. Donald Garrow offered this advice: 'Diabetics should pay particular attention to their doctor's recommendations for colorectal screening.'

The report didn't designate diabetic types, and the study hasn't been published yet, so for now we'll have to assume that Dr. Garrow and his team are referring to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.