Osteoporosis is a sneaky condition because it advances little by little over the years. However, osteoporosis can be prevented. Vitamin D helps maintain healthy bones and reduces the risk of falls.

vitamin d Osteoporosis is a bone disease that weakens the bones and leads to an increased risk of fracture. Osteoporosis is often diagnosed once the patient suffers a fracture. It has been estimated that 400,000 people in Finland have some stage of osteoporosis – and most of them are not aware of their condition. The disease is more common among women. Approximately 100,000 Finnish men have osteoporosis.

It pays to prevent osteoporosis by ensuring sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D and by exercising. Quitting smoking is also beneficial.

Bones need
vitamin D to grow

Our bodies need vitamin D to absorb calcium, which is very important for our bones. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphates in the intestine. Thus, it helps prevent osteoporosis by ensuring that our bones get the important building minerals they need.

Low levels of vitamin D in the blood increase the decalcification of bones. In the long run, this will decrease bone mass. This makes the bone weaker and increases the risk of fracture.

Calcium intake alone does not help because bones cannot deposit calcium without vitamin D.

Weak muscles
increase the risk of falls

Vitamin D deficiency also weakens the muscles, which increases the risk of falls. The importance of vitamin D is highlighted by the fact that it helps prevent fractures in two different ways: by maintaining healthy bones and by preventing falls.

It is estimated that two in five women and one in seven men over 50 years old will break their wrist, vertebra or hip over their remaining lifetime.

Risk of fracture
increases rapidly

A 10 percent decrease in bone mass doubles or even triples the risk of fracture. In about 50 percent of fractures suffered by old-age patients, the underlying cause is the weakening of the bone due to vitamin D deficiency.

Similarly, almost all post-menopausal women who are hospitalised due to an osteoporotic fracture suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D has also been proven to promote recovery from operations after bone fractures.

Inadequate treatment
increases mortality

The distinguished journal Drugs Aging recently published a Finnish study according to which the use of calcium together with vitamin D can help decrease mortality among hip fracture patients. The patients were diagnosed with dangerous vitamin D deficiencies during the study.

According to the Finnish Osteoporosis Society, research results clearly indicate that the national Current Care treatment recommendation on treatment of patients with hip fracture, which would help maintain and improve their bone health, is not followed sufficiently in Finland.

In 2007, only one in five patients were given calcium and vitamin D supplements and one in four were given an osteoporosis drug. However, according to the Osteoporosis Society, prescribing calcium and vitamin D alone would significantly reduce patient mortality.

Text Pertti Suvanto | Photo Istockphoto