July 3, 2006

COLLEGE STATION – Millions of people are suffering from a debilitating medical condition, and millions more could be at risk, said Texas Cooperative Extension experts.

"Osteoporosis threatens about 44 million Americans, affecting both men and women," said Dr. Mary Bielamowicz, Extension nutrition specialist.

"One out of every two women and one out of every four men are at risk of developing this debilitating disease."

That's why Extension is participating in a in a four-year, multi-state, federally funded research project called "Osteoporosis Prevention Using Soy," said Dr. Sharon Robinson, Extension nutrition specialist.

Extension has developed the consumer nutrition education part of the project and calls it ‘Standing On Your Own,' she said. The program promotes the role of soy in a healthful and bone-strengthening dietary plan. It even provides several tasty and healthful recipes containing soy, she added.

After age 30, most people lose bone mass and density, Bielamowicz said. For women, that loss accelerates during early menopause.

"This natural reduction in bone mass and density often causes the bones to become extremely fragile and susceptible to fractures," she said. "This is osteoporosis."

The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports any bone can be affected by the condition but those of most concern are the hip and spine.

"A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery," according to the foundation's Web site (http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/index.htm ). "It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain and deformity."

Osteoporosis can be an expensive condition to treat, Robinson said. Necessary medical care may include hospitalization, nursing home care, rehabilitation, special equipment, prescription medications and home modifications.

"In the United States, the annual medical costs of osteoporosis and related fractures range from $12.2 billion to $17.3 billion," Bielamowicz said. Those costs are expected to be $32.4 billion by 2020, she added.

Development of osteoporosis has been linked to some uncontrollable risk factors, Robinson said, including genetic predisposition, ethnicity (white or Asian), small frame, age, menopause, anorexia and certain medications.

Some risk factors are more controllable, Robinson said, and risk-reducing steps taken earlier in life can be beneficial. Her advice:

- Talk with your doctor.

- Do some kind of regular weight-bearing exercise such as walking, stair climbing, skating or bowling, and do some weight training to build bones.

- Don't smoke.

- Get the right amount of dietary calcium. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's My Pyramid recommends at least three servings from the milk group each day; check recommendations on the Web at http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html .

Milk products are well known as a rich source of dietary calcium, Robinson said. But so are some soy products. Extension's Family and Consumer Sciences is offering information on soy in two formats.

Consumer lessons are available online as voice-over power points, she said. Go to the Web at http://fcs.tamu.edu/ and click on Courses. These two free lessons are located at http://extensiononline.tamu.edu/ .

‘Standing On Your Own' education are available for nutrition educators and high school teachers from the TCE Bookstore; a $6 handling fee is charged, Robinson said.

The TCE Bookstore Web site is http://tcebookstore.org/ .