The Role of Diet in the Development of Brittle Bone Disease

Osteoporosis is a well-known brittle bone disease that typically affects post-menopausal women. It is a result of the body’s bone resorption and deposition process, in which the body begins reabsorbing more bone than it is building. The bones become thin and brittle and are more susceptible to breakage. High calcium blood levels can help slow this process.

Osteoporosis is not directly fatal, but it can lead to painful and debilitating fractures. Osteoporosis can cause the vertebrae in the spine to shrink, causing slumping and loss of height. It is very common for a woman with brittle bone disease to fall and break a hip, lose her independence, and need to enter a nursing home. Many die within a year from resulting complications.

Prevent Brittle Bone Disease through Diet

By establishing healthy eating habits early in life to maintain high calcium levels in the body, women can avoid developing brittle bone disease. Calcium is found in many of the foods we eat, but with a daily requirement of 1200 to 1500 mg, depending on age, it can be difficult to get enough calcium through diet alone. Therefore, it is a good idea for nearly everyone, especially post-menopausal women, to take a dietary supplement.

Many people do not get enough calcium in their diets. In fact, the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals (CSFII 1994-96) shows that about 78% of women over the age of 20 do not get enough daily calcium. Many women lose calcium when they diet due to avoidance of calcium-rich foods, which results in an increased risk of developing brittle bone disease. It is important to either replace those foods with others that are high in calcium, or to take a daily calcium supplement.

Dairy products are the number one source of dietary calcium, and everyone over the age of two should get two to three servings of dairy per day. Other foods that contain calcium are broccoli, kale, nuts, and whole grains. Do not eat foods high in oxalic or phytic acid, such as collard greens, sweet potatoes, or beans at the same time as calcium-rich food, because these acids slow the absorption of calcium.

It is possible to avoid the development of brittle bone disease by eating a diet high in calcium throughout life. When calcium intake through diet is insufficient, or calcium absorption is impaired for any reason, a daily calcium supplement that includes vitamin D and magnesium should be considered.