Can eating calcium tablets prevent osteoporosis? Expert: It's not that simple
◎Dai Xiaopei, our reporter
October 20th is World Osteoporosis Day, with the theme "Early Screening of Bone Mass and Early Prevention of Fractures".
Talking about the prevention of osteoporosis, Wang Weiguo, director of the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, emphasized that calcium supplementation is very important, but calcium supplementation alone is not enough to prevent osteoporosis.
Clinically, osteoporosis can be roughly divided into three types: senile osteoporosis, postmenopausal osteoporosis in women, and osteoporosis caused by special diseases.
In recent years, patients with osteoporosis have shown a younger trend.
Experts believe that this has a lot to do with the living habits of contemporary people.
"The root cause of osteoporosis is calcium deficiency, and the absorption and utilization of calcium requires active vitamin D. Human skin can synthesize vitamin D, but it can only form active vitamin D after sunlight exposure and liver metabolism. But many young people like to stay at home. Indoors, there is a lack of sunlight.” Wang Weiguo explained, “Another reason is that bone development requires proper mechanical stimulation. Some young people do not move for a long time, resulting in bone loss and disuse osteoporosis.”
How to properly prevent osteoporosis?
Wang Weiguo said that the first thing to do is to have a balanced diet.
"Calcium supplementation is important to prevent osteoporosis, but the body not only needs calcium, vitamins, carbohydrates, fiber, etc. are also very important. Due to an imbalanced diet, vegetarians may be prone to calcium deficiency. It should be noted that eating There is no scientific basis for the claim that large bones and collagen supplement calcium."
Even if you take in enough calcium, you cannot absorb and use calcium well.
Experts recommend participating in more outdoor activities, appropriately increasing the light time, and promoting the body to synthesize active vitamin D.
"If calcium intake or utilization is insufficient, some'calcium + vitamin D'compound supplements can be used." Wang Weiguo said.
Experts also suggest that women go to the endocrinology department or gynecology department to check the hormone changes in the hospital after menstruation, and be alert to osteoporosis or menopausal symptoms. The majority of elderly people should do regular physical examinations to detect bone abnormalities early and take targeted treatment early.
"If osteoporosis has already occurred, it is necessary to prevent falls from causing fractures. Common osteoporotic fractures include spine fractures, hip fractures, and wrist fractures. Once a fracture occurs, its complications can cause great harm to the patient's health." Wang Weiguo remind.
(Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, October 19th)