The Better Bones Blog
by Dr. Susan Brown, PhD.
U.S. hip fracture rates on the decline
Osteoporosis is indeed becoming a household word, with more and more women being told they are likely to suffer an osteoporotic fracture. With this growing “fracture fear” in mind, we make special note of the recent data on declining US hip fracture incidence. As detailed in a study by the Mayo Clinic, the hip fracture […]
Is Forteo™ a new bone wonder drug? Not really!
Forteo™ is promoted as a rising star on the osteoporosis scene, a bone drug that actually builds new bone, rather than just halting bone loss. By various mechanisms, Forteo “tricks” the body into building substantial new bone mass and short-term studies show Forteo actually reduces fracture more than other bone drugs. Sure, it is very […]
Endurance cycling leads to bone loss
Become a Patron! While exercise is generally good for bone, a study of male endurance cyclists reports that serious cyclists lose significant hip bone mineral density during the biking season. This new research as well as earlier studies document that over time many endurance cyclists end up with low bone density. If exercise is good for […]
Are Asians at higher risk for osteoporosis?
Does being Asian-American really increase your risk of fracture? Being “Asian or Asian-American” always figured high on the standard list of osteoporosis risk factors. So naturally, one is led to think that Asians and Asian-Americans are at high risk for osteoporotic fracture—particularly Asian-American women who are in or past menopause. When we actually look at […]
Prunes and osteoporosis: Your questions answered
My recent blog on the bone-building action of prunes drew a lot of attention and generated several interesting follow-up questions. Let me answer your questions as best I can. Q. Wouldn’t eating 9-10 prunes a day cause diarrhea and/or gas? A. As we well know, prunes have a laxative effect. The studies using 9-10 prunes […]
NOF’s new osteoporosis treatment guidelines: Are they kidding?
In April 2008 the U.S. National Osteoporosis Foundation published its new criteria for osteoporosis treatment, “Clinician’s Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis.” This handbook sets forth their official suggestions for treatment, which basically boil down to two sets of criteria for determining if a person should be given osteoporosis drugs. One criterion is based […]