Can A Single Vaccine Treat Osteoporosis For Good?
Posted November 16, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Osteoporosis, the disease that eats away at your bones leaving them brittle, mostly occurs in post-menopausal women but men can get it too. Once a person is diagnosed, they usually wind up having to take multiple vitamins and pills to inject calcium back into their bones. But what if you could treat it with just one shot?
It just might be possible now that the first once a year osteoporosis injection treatment has been approved by Health Canada. Medical experts are raving about it. “It showed a very significant reduction in fracture risk: 70 per cent for variable fractures and 40 per cent for hip fractures,” said Dr. Robert Josse, the director of the Osteoporosis Clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital.
Ina Ilse has osteoporosis and suffered through 10 fractures. Simple acts like hugging could crush her bones.
“You just try and pick up a nine pound little dog and you fracture your rib, it’s quite serious,” she agrees.
Ilse was one of the many patients who took part in the clinical trial for the vaccine and she claims it’s worked wonders for her bones.
“I haven’t had any more fractures and I haven’t lost any bone mineral density,” she said.
The treatment is still so new that it’s not yet covered by provincial health plans, and if you’re thinking of getting it, you still need to take calcium supplements and Vitamin D to keep your bones strong.
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the common disease.
A primer on osteoporosis:
What is it?
Osteoporosis is disease that causes bones to become fragile and therefore very easy to fracture with the hips, the spine and wrist being the areas most at risk. The disease is characterized by low bone mass and the deterioration of bone tissue.
According to Osteoporosis Canada, one in four women over the age of 50 will get the disease and one in eight men.
What are the risk factors?
Certain people are more likely to develop the disease than others. Here’s what you should look out for:
Major Risk Factors
- being 65 or older
- having a family history of osteoporotic fracture (especially if your mother had a hip fracture)
- having a vertebral compression fracture, or a fracture with minimal trauma after age 40
- long-term (more than 3 months) use of glucocorticoid therapy such as prednisone
- medical conditions (such as celiac or Crohn’s disease) that inhibit absorption of nutrients
- primary hyperparathyroidism
- tendency to fall
- osteopenia apparent on x-ray
- early menopause (before age 45)
Minor Risk Factors
- rheumatoid arthritis
- hyperthyroidism
- prolonged use of anticonvulsants
- body weight less than 57 kg (125 lbs)
- present weight more than 10 percent below weight at age 25
- low calcium intake
- excess caffeine (consistently more than 4 cups a day of coffee, tea or cola)
- excess alcohol (consistently more than 2 drinks a day)
- smoking
Estrogen levels play a big role in bone tissue and in the first five to ten years after menopause, rapid bone loss begins. All post-menopausal women and men are advised to talk to their doctors about being assessed for the symptoms of osteoporosis.
Prevention
Prevention starts young, as a woman has built up 98 percent of her skeletal mass by the age of 20. There are steps you can take in adulthood to prevent this disease, which include:
- A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
- Weight-bearing and resistance-training exercises
- A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake
- Talking to one’s healthcare professional about bone health
- Bone density testing and medication when appropriate
- Information provided by the National Osteoporosis Foundation in the United States.
How much calcium/vitamin D do I need?
Calcium is important for building strong bones in childhood and maintaining good bone density throughout adulthood. It’s also important to get the right amount of Vitamin D, because it aids in the absorption of calcium. Here’s a look at how much you should be getting everyday:
Age: 4 – 8 Calcium: 800mg Vitamin D: 200 IUs
Age: 9 – 18 Calcium: 1300mg Vitamin D: 200 IUs
Age: 19 – 50 Calcium: 100mg Vitamin D: 400 IUs
Age: 50+ Calcium: 1500mg Vitamin D: 800 IUs
Pregnant or lactating women over 18 Calcium: 1000mg Vitamin D: 400 IUs
How do I choose the right supplement?
Supplements are meant for people who aren’t getting enough calcium in their diet and there are a number of products on the market, the most popular being calcium carbonate.
Osteoporosis Canada advises looking for a product that states the amount of elemental calcium per tablet, ie. 1000mg of calcium carbonate contains 400mg of calcium.
Also, look for products that have a Drug Identification Number (D.I.N.) or a General Product (G.P.) number – that lets you know that it meets Canadian standards. The American equivalent is the United States Pharmacopoeia (U.S.P.) number.
To maximize the absorption of calcium, Osteoporosis Canada recommends doing the following:
- Take calcium carbonate with food or immediately after eating
- Take calcium with plenty of water
- Take no more than 500 mg of elemental calcium at one time
- What are some good dietary sources of calcium?
Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt are great sources of easily absorbed calcium. Vegetables are also a great source, as are fish products containing bones (canned sardines and salmon) and meat alternatives like lentils and beans.
Osteoporosis Canada also advises you to pay attention to foods you’re eating that may cause calcium loss including caffeinated products and salty foods.
Information courtesy the Public Health Agency of Canada and Osteoporosis Canada, except for prevention – information provided by the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
