About 300,000 people are affected by osteoporosis but only 15 per cent have an official diagnosis of the disease, according to the Irish Osteoporosis Society (IOS).
It is estimated that one in two women and one in five men over 50 will develop the condition.
There are no official figures for osteoporosis among younger people, but the IOS has expressed growing concern about young people developing the disease.
About 75 per cent of Irish teenagers don’t get the required daily amount of calcium, according to Michele O’Brien from the IOS.
In addition, young people are not getting the required level of exercise and are also under increased stress, which affects hormone levels, which in turn affects bone development, she adds.
To ensure the proper development of bones the right level of vitamin D is needed to ensure the proper absorption of calcium. This is found only in oily fish and margarines.
A glass of super milk (which has added calcium and vitamin D), a yoghurt and a matchbox-sized portion of cheese will give the daily amount required.
A big problem is the lack of weight-bearing exercise being done by young people. Physical education has been cut in a lot of schools due to budget constraints.
Dr John Griffin, a consultant psychiatrist who heads up the eating disorder unit in St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin, says there is a strong connection between eating disorders and osteoporosis.
In women, eating disorders can lead to loss of periods, which means that oestrogen is no longer being produced. This can lead to osteopenia, a forerunner of osteoporosis, he explains.
If a patient has experienced loss of periods for over six months, a Dexa scan is required to assess for bone density, he says.
Osteoporosis risk factors:
For women, risk factors for developing osteoporosis include lack of oestrogen caused by early menopause, early hysterectomy and missing periods for six months or more as a result of over-exercising or over-dieting.
For men, the risk factors include low levels of the male hormone, testosterone.
In addition, both men and women are at risk of developing osteoporosis if they have long-term use of high-dose corticosteroid tablets (for conditions such as arthritis and asthma), have close family history of osteoporosis, other medical conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome, intestinal diseases and liver and thyroid problems, absorption problems (Coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease or gastric surgery).
Long-term immobility and heavy drinking or smoking are also risk factors.
For further information, contact the Irish Osteoporosis Society on freephone 1890 252751, or see the society’s new website at irish
osteoporosis.ie
For further information, contact Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, on 1890 200444 or see bodywhys.ie
