Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by low bone mass, which causes bones to become brittle and fracture. Researchers have discovered that arthritis, sickle-cell anemia and lupus are linked to osteoporosis in Black women. According to a recent study, White women are 50 percent more likely to receive proper osteoporosis care than African-American women, who rarely receive bone density tests or take calcium with vitamin D supplements to prevent the disease. Many in the African-American community don't realize that Black women are more likely to die and be disabled from osteoporosis than White women. Postmenopausal women are at greatest risk for osteoporosis, because estrogen protects bones against density loss.

Experts recently discovered that osteoporosis and colorectal cancer are both linked to diets low in calcium. To complicate matters, 75 percent of African-Americans are lactose intolerant and unable to digest milk sugars; consequently they avoid eating calcium-rich dairy foods. Less than 20 percent of African-American women get enough calcium in their diets to build sufficient bone mass to prevent osteoporosis. An estimated 300,000 African-American women currently suffer from osteoporosis, which is commonly referred to as the "silent disease," because there are no symptoms until a facture occurs.

Experts agree that osteoporosis can be prevented with a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, regular weight-bearing exercises, no smoking and not drinking excessively. Kale, turnip and mustard greens, as well as sardines, salmon, soy milk and calcium-fortified foods are all lactose-free foods that are rich in calcium and vitamin D. Doctors also suggest that women with a family history of osteoporosis get additional calcium with vitamin D from a supplement.

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