Osteoporosis is disorder that reduces bone strength and raises an individual’s risk of bone fracture. While lots of literature focuses on osteoporosis as a women’s health issue, approximately 20 percent of Americans with osteoporosis or low bone density are men.
In fact, one is five men over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in their life.
According to a new clinical practice guidelines released by The Endocrine Society in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, there are a few things that men can do to help learn their risk of osteoporosis and lower their chances of developing bone weakness.
- Talk to Your Doctor About Bone Density Testing – Men at higher risk for osteoporosis (including men aged 70 years or older and men between the ages of 50 and 69 who have risk factors) should be tested using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Your doctor should also monitor your bone mineral density by DXA at the spine and hip every one to two years to assess the response to treatment.
- Look Into a Calcium Supplement – Men who are at risk for osteoporosis should consume 1000 – 1200 mg of calcium daily, ideally from dietary sources, with calcium supplements added if dietary calcium is insufficient.
- Check Your Vitamin D Levels – Men with low vitamin D levels [<30 ng/ml] should receive vitamin D supplementation to achieve levels of at least 30 ng/ml.
- Be Proactive About Addressing Risk Fractures – Men aged 50 or older who have had spine or hip fractures and men at high risk of fracture based on low bone mineral density and/or clinical risk factors should look into pharmacologic treatment options.
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Source: Medical News Today “New Clinical Practice Guidelines On The Management Of Osteoporosis In Men”