Calcium and Bone

Calcium and Bone

PKGhatak,MD

There is so much information and misinformation about Calcium and a bone disease called Osteoporosis that if by some misfortune you are diagnosed with this condition you will not know how to cope. Of course, you will follow your doctor’s advice but does your doctor really believe taking a calcium supplement and commonly prescribed medications will actually reverse the disease?

 

Here is the answer.

The rate of bone growth is highest in the teenage years. Outdoor games, physical activities and enough milk and cheese in food help to lay down a solid foundation for a healthy bonny structure. The absence of any of two essentials, - vigorous physical activities and adequate calcium with vitamin D in the diet, will produce a weaker foundation and bones will be susceptible to osteoporosis if your adult life is like an average person.

The inner structure of the bone is called the matrix. It is like a mesh, made up of protein, on which calcium is laid down by a type of bone cell called Osteoblast. Like the rest of the body, bone is a living tissue. It undergoes wear and tear and rebuilding and remodeling. Calcium needs to bind onto protein scaffolding to remain in place and provide strength and stability to the bone. Once we cross the early 20s, we are not really growing, we are just maintaining our structure. 

There is an intricate relationship between the health of bones and hormones- namely growth hormone, sex hormones, and thyroid hormone and corticosteroid hormones. In addition, a calcium regulating hormone called Parathormone plays an important role in removing calcium from bones and helps to remodel. Vitamin D and Parathormone work in opposite ways in this regard. The acid produced in the stomach, a healthy small bowel and normal kidneys are closely linked in regulating calcium like a well-choreographed soccer game as if calcium is the ball, the bone matrix the playing field, vitamin D the referee, thyroid hormone and parathormone are line judges, other hormones the coaches and team officials.

 

All these are nice to know now but it is too late to reverse the osteoporotic bones to normal healthy bones. The clock cannot be turned back; the sticking part is the protein matrix. Once it is finished laying the foundation it is done, only the female sex hormone- estrogen helps restore its vigor to the extent that new calcium will bind to it.

 

Regular physical exercise, a well-balanced meal with adequate calcium and vitamin D will go a long way to keep your bone in shape as long as you maintain your interest in exercise. Just because calcium and vitamin D help to restore calcium in the blood, it does not mean taking mega doses of these will undo the damage in osteoporosis, in fact, may damage your kidneys. Common antacids and other stronger- longer acting acid suppressing drugs prevent calcium absorption even when an adequate amount of calcium is present in the food. Soft drinks and excess alcohol interfere with calcium absorption. Certain drugs, used in the treatment of epilepsy, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, etc., weaken bones.

Medications prescribed for the treatment of osteoporosis have significant adverse side effects. You have to question your doctor or the pharmacist before starting medication.

Preventing osteoporosis is a job that must start in childhood. Osteoporosis is a chronic disabling condition and is preventable.

 

edited 2020.