Moms and Daughters Reach For the Fridge For Stronger, Healthier Bones

National Osteoporosis Prevention Week Encourages Women To Bone-Up On Calcium

Source

Forums

Related Articles

ROSEMONT, Ill., May 9, 1996 -- "Mother knows best" when it comes to advising daughters about the value of milk to help build strong bones to last a lifetime. And according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, daughters are following mom's example at the dinner table.

Researchers from Oregon State University in Corvallis found that a mother's strong milk-drinking practice can positively influence her daughter's milk consumption, which may help reduce her future risk of osteoporosis. This is welcome news this Mother's Day -- the official start of National Osteoporosis Prevention Week, May 12-18, an annual observance that aims to reduce the incidence of this debilitating bone disease.

Boning-Up On The Facts

Today, more than 8 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, which is characterized by decreased bone mass and increased risk of fractures. Also, an additional 17 million are at high risk due to low bone mass. Eighty percent of these individuals are women. The worldwide incidence of osteoporosis is predicted to increase three-fold over the next 60 years due to an increase in life expectancy. And, osteoporosis costs the nation in hospital and nursing home bills more than $10 billion annually.

But researchers agree that osteoporosis is preventable and treatable. And one of the best strategies to prevent the disease is maintaining adequate calcium intake, starting early in life to build peak bone mass.

Unfortunately, government food consumption surveys reveal that more than 50 percent of women fail to meet their needs for calcium. "If we really want to do something to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis, we must start by working on our teens and on our children to foster skeletal health," says author Cornelia Ulrich, who conducted the mother-daughter pairs research at Oregon State University. "Many of the 1.5 million annual bone fractures attributed to osteoporosis might be reduced by committing to calcium-rich foods like milk and dairy products at an early age."

Calcium Counts

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium varies from one age or stage of life to another. Adult women need 800 mg of calcium each day, which can be met by consuming at least three servings of dairy foods dally. Adolescents and young women 11 to 24 years need even more calcium: at least 1,200 mg or four servings of dairy daily.

However, some health organizations, including the National Osteoporosis Foundation and an expert panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1994 say the RDA for calcium is too low. They assert that the RDA focuses on the maintenance of calcium balance, but additional calcium -- 1,000 mg each day for adults -- is required to maximize peak bone mass and minimize bone loss. NIH also recommends that adolescents and young adults should aim for 1,200 to 1,500 mg per day.

Putting The Brakes On The Breaks

Experts agree that adequate calcium intake during childhood, adolescence and early adulthood is needed to maximize peak bone mass and slow bone loss that occurs with aging. And dairy products are the richest source of well-absorbed calcium, according to Connie Weaver, Ph.D., professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University. Yet bones aren't built on calcium alone. Weaver offers these immediate strategies to help women reduce the risk of osteoporosis:

• Eat three or more servings of calcium-rich dairy products every day.
  
  
• Don't forget about the vitamin D in milk, which helps your body absorb calcium
  
  
• Step up weight-bearing physical activity.
  
  
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol intake.

Bone-Building Basics

To help women learn more bone-building basics, a free brochure called "Banking on Beautiful Bones" is now available. Developed by the National Diary Council, National Osteoporosis Foundation and The American Dietetic Association, the brochure offers lifestyle recommendations for preventing osteoporosis as well as strategies for boosting intake by including a variety of dairy foods in their diets.

The brochure is available free by sending a self-addressed, stamped letter-sized envelope to: National Dairy Council, "Banking on Beautiful Bones," 10255 W. Higgins Road, Suite 900, Rosemont, Ill., 60018-5616.

CONTACT: Jahnelle Harrigan of Bozell Public Relations, 312-988-2365