Addressing Osteoporosis

Source：Ringier Release Date：2011-06-06 96

Adding multiple ingredients to food products and supplements can promote improved bone and joint health, as well as manage other health conditions

OSTEOPOROSIS is becoming a major health problem worldwide including the Middle East, yet there is no regional guideline on how to address risk factors. Large segments of the population are moreover deficient in Vitamin D, which is necessary for the digestion of calcium.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), osteoporosis ranks second to cardiovascular disease in terms of its global healthcare burden. Yet, bone and joint conditions are nearly eclipsed in the public eye by health conditions with more visibility, when musculoskeletal conditions are in fact the leading cause of long-term pain and physical disability worldwide. The range of these conditions includes back pain, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and bodily injuries. All together, they place an enormous burden on society, including the personal suffering of those afflicted, as well as the cost of lost productivity, lost wages, and treatment.

The role of nutrition in bone health is well documented, yet consumers cannot rely on food intake alone to get these essential nutrients. What role then should the food industry play in educating consumers on bone health, and in providing fortified foods to boost calcium and Vitamin D intake?

Bone nutrients

By far, calcium and vitamin D have been the mainstay ingredients in bone health-promoting products and the subject of considerable scientific research. According to Fortitech* , there is growing consumer interest in other ingredients that could promote optimal bone health. These ingredients include magnesium, vitamin K, vitamin C, and possibly some botanical compounds, such as those found in tea or soy.

Calcium. Current recommended intakes of calcium are between 1,000-1,300 mg/day depending on age, which is about twice the level of usual calcium intakes.

Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading cause of long-term pain and physical disability worldwide

Vitamin D. Products designed to deliver calcium should also provide vitamin D because these two nutrients work together in order to provide the best opportunity for calcium to be absorbed into the body. The current recommended dietary vitamin D intake is 5μg to 15μg (200-600 IU) per day. However, considerable disagreement over the adequacy of this recommendation has ensued in light of recent research findings, and some prAir Max 95 20th Anniversary