Osteoporosis is a disease, which leads to a reduction in bone mass density as a consequence of which bone is more prone to breaking. It affects one out of three women as well as older men. It may be avoided early on- the earlier we start fighting it, the better the prospect of avoiding painful fractures in older age you’ll have.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of osteoporosis may be severe back pain or a fracture- most frequently of the wrist, femoral neck or vertebral column. Another classical symptom is the progressive loss of stature associated at first with the development of a discrete “hunch back”. X-ray examination of the teeth may reveal the early stage of osteoporosis by uncovering rarefied bone matter in the lower jaw.
Causes
In older women, the decrease in oestrogen levels following menopause is directly associated with a dramatic increase in the risk of osteoporosis. The hormone oestrogen helps the body absorb calcium and maintain bone strength. Older men may also develop osteoporosis, but bone loss in their case is less significant because bone density in men is greater than in women. Other risk factors include early menopause, lack of exercise, diet lacking adequate calcium and other nutrients necessary for optimal bone formation. The risk of osteoporosis increases if the bones are weak during life, after menopause, in the case of malnutrition, if there is an incidence of osteoporosis in the family, or during long-term administration of corticosteroids.
Prevention
The basic recommendations for the prevention of osteoporosis are based on the factors that affect bone nutrition and formation. Adjustments of diet are recommended, including dietary supplements containing calcium and vitamin D, depending on the age and GenScan analysis results. Furthermore, exercise is unambiguously recommended- at least thirty minutes of exercise, ideally every day- including rapid walking, tennis, swimming, dancing etc. Smoking of tobacco products unfortunately has negative effects not only on the lungs and heart, but also on the bones, as tobacco smoke decreases the absorption of calcium in the intestinal tract and suppresses the positive effect of oestrogens on bone quality. Hormonal substitution therapy may also be a means of prevention in women. In persons at greater risk of osteoporosis, it is suitable to have bone density checked regularly by specialists who may eventually start prescribe treatment.
Treatment
Treatment of advanced stages of osteoporosis usually requires the administration of various drugs. But these alone cannot reliably replace the aforementioned change in lifestyle. The drugs used in the treatment of osteoporosis include substances that enhance the formation of new bone, calcitonin, a natural hormone of the human body that boosts the deposition of mineral substances in the bone. Calcium may be administered in the form of tablets, together with fluorine. Hormonal substitution therapy helps eliminate the unpleasant psychological and physical symptoms associated with hormonal disruption in menopause. These hormones can also positively affect the progress of osteoporosis. This treatment must be strictly controlled by a gynaecologist. The suitability of administering hormonal substitution therapy from a genetic aspect is moreover tested as part of the GenScan analysis.
How can GenScan uncover the risk of developing osteoporosis?
GenScan analysis tests for genes that are directly involved in the building of bone matter. These mainly include the gene for type I collagen, the gene for the oestrogen receptor and the gene for the vitamin D receptor. These facts show that the analysis tests those genes whose efficacy may be affected by adjustment of lifestyle. On the basis of the GenScan analysis, the physician acquires information as to whether the function of one of the cited genes is disrupted. The physician can thus recommend suitable preventive measures.