Fonterra, IOF Fund Indonesian Bone Health Research

SINGAPORE, July 25 (Bernama) -- The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and Fonterra, global leader in dairy nutrition on Thursday announced funding for the state of female bone health in Indonesia. In a joint statement, they said Dr Suharti Suherman of the Faculty of Medicine at University of Indonesia has been awarded a grant of Swiss Francs 40,000 (about US$42,725) for her research into the profile of bone mineral density (BMD), muscle strength and related lifestyle habits in Indonesian women. Dr. Suharti is principal investigator for this joint research project by the Indonesian Union of Osteoporosis (PEROSI) and Indonesian Healthy Bone Foundation (PERWATUSI). The research was selected from 19 applications, with projects from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam eligible for the grant. "There is currently a lack of data to help health professionals in Indonesia build effective osteoporosis management and prevention strategies, and I believe my research will help to fill this gap," said Dr Suharti. The objective of this study is to discover the prevalence of low BMD among Indonesian women aged between 25 to 35 and the profile of its risk factors. Data will be collected from 450 women across Jakarta as part of the research. IOF chief executive officer Judy Stenmark said hip fracture incidence has risen two to three fold in Asian countries during the past 30 years, and it is expected more than 50 per cent of all osteoporotic fractures will occur in the region by 2050. -- BERNAMA