Exercise and Calcium Protect Bones

Jun. 10, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Exercise and eat right while you're young in order to avoid osteoporosis later in life, say researchers from Tennessee and Texas.

In a study published in this month's Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine, researchers say physical activity and calcium intake early in life are positively associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD) and other markers of healthy bones. Lean body mass resulting from increased physical activity was the most important and consistent factor for predicting BMD and bone mineral content (BMC).

Osteoporosis, or thinning of the bones, generally strikes post-menopausal women. The condition causes significant morbidity and mortality and is estimated to cost the nation about $14 billion a year. While the disease doesn't appear until later in life, doctors believe health behaviors exhibited throughout a person's lifetime probably play a role in its development.

The study looked at the relationship between lifetime physical activity and calcium intake and BMD and BMC among 42 healthy white women. All received standard tests to measure BMD and BMC and also were interviewed to determine their lifetime physical activity and calcium intake. Results linked both factors to BMD and BMC scores.

The researchers believe their results call for greater attention to preventing osteoporosis among young women. They write, "We found lean mass to be a powerful predictor of BMD and BMC in young women. Because lean mass can be modified to some extent by physical activity, public health efforts must be directed at increasing physical activity throughout the lifespan."