Calcium alone may not prevent osteoporosis

I’ve read several of Dr. Andrew Weil’s books. I don’t agree with everything he has to say, but I like to read his opinions as they seem less biased. Dr. Andrew Weil is a medical doctor (M.D.) and popular health writer with an interest in alternative medicine. Dr. Weil is just as likely to endorse a conventional medical treatment as give a positive ( or negative ) review of an alternative treatment.

Here is what he has to say about the possible under reporting of osteoporosis in Asia and why that shouldn’t be taken as indicator that much lowers calcium intakes aren’t safe.

In a number of countries, including Japan, India, and Peru, the average daily calcium intake is very low, only 300 mg. That’s considerably less than the daily total of 1,000 mg recommended for adults between the ages of 19 and 50 and 1,200 mg recommended for those over 50 in the U.S., yet the incidence of bone fractures in these countries reportedly has been very low. The difference has been attributed to the level of physical activity people perform as well as the amount of incident sunlight in those countries. However, it is also believed that osteoporosis has been under-diagnosed and under-treated in Asia, which may explain why this condition appears to occur so much less frequently in these populations than in the U.S. and other western nations. That may be changing. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) projects that by 2050 about 50 percent of all osteoporotic hip fractures will occur in Asia.

In the article Dr. Weil goes on to describe the other things that need to be done to prevent osteoporosis too.  These includes exercise, reducing excessive caffeine intake, getting enough vitamin D, getting enough vitamin K, and getting enough vitamin A.   It is not just about calcium only.  Dr. Weil does recommend calcium supplements.

Get your levels tested, get outside in the sun, eat orange vegetables and eat the proper green vegetables !

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