ONE IN THREE ASIANS AT RISK OF DEVELOPING OSTEOPOROSIS

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- One in three Asian above 35, could be at risk
of developing osteoporosis, according to a study by Fonterra, a New Zealand
dairy nutrition company.

The study analysed from 2.1 million bone scans conducted across Asia showed
that there was a significant proportion of 30-year olds that did not have the
desired level of bone mass that would be expected in young adulthood.

The results of the study on Malaysia showed 50 percent of Malaysians would
be at risk by their 50s, and their women were among the top three Asian
countries at risk by their early 30s.

Releasing the results of the study at the International Osteoporosis
Foundation’s (IOF) first Asia Regional Meeting here Friday, Fonterra Asia and
Middle East’s Health Platform Manager Joanne Todd said, "osteoporosis, a disease
causing bones to breakdown and fracture, is not just a health issue affecting
the elderly."

The study showed that more needed to be done to help people build strong
bones from early adulthood to middle age, she said, adding bone mass built in
early adulthood had a big impact on the fragility of bones later in life.


Todd said that the risk increased dramatically for men and women in their
50s, with 50 percent classified in the range of osteopenia or thinning bones,
or osteoporosis.

The study cited that the average dietary calcium intake for adults in Asia
was 450mg per day, significantly below the Food and Agricultural Organisation
and World Health Organisation recommended calcium intake of 1000 to 1300 mg per
day, a potential contributor to poor bone health.

The study said the Philippines and Indonesia had the poorest bone health,
while Singapore and Taiwan had the strongest bones.

IOF Chief Operating Officer Judy Stenmark said "osteoporosis is one of the
world’s most common diseases but also one disease that is being neglected, under
diagnose and under treated."

There was even no official government approved national guidelines on the
disease, she said, adding the early signs of osteoporosis were height loss, back
pain and stoop.

An IOF’s Asian Audit report found that due to the growing and ageing
population, half of the osteoporotic hip fractures would occur in Asia by 2050.

-- BERNAMA




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