No matter what your bone-building program, it is important to
measure its success and to modify your program as necessary. Currently,
the best way to test your bone density is with a DEXA bone density
measurement. Baseline measurements are made of the hip and spine
and then compared with similar measurements in the future to evaluate
changes in bone mineral density.
Another way to estimate the success of your bone-building program
is measurement of urine markers of bone breakdown. Simple urine
tests can tell if you are breaking down bone at an accelerated
rate, which could lead to osteoporosis. They will also indicate
if your bone mass is stable so they offer a simple way to verify
if your bone building program is actually halting bone loss.
The two tests used for this purpose are the NTx Osteomark Test
and the Deoxypridinoline Crosslinks Test (Dpd) These tests should
be available through your physician. Also the Dpd test is available
on the net at nubasix.com and bodybalance.com.
In our research and in our daily clinical practice, we use the
NTx Osteomark Test and the Deoxypyridinoline Crosslink Test (Dpd)
to initially determine if one is undergoing current bone loss
and to later determine if our bone-building program is successful
or in need of modification.
Related Links:
osteomark.com
nubasix.com
Extracted from our book, Better
Bones Better Body (Keats 2000) by our Director, Susan E. Brown,
Ph.D., CCN
