Bone Health
As men age, bone health becomes increasingly important. Here are some things you need to know about the health of your bones:
- Approximately one-third of osteoporosis-related bone fractures occur in men.
- Men have substantially higher death rates than women after fracturing a bone. One reason for this is men with osteoporosis often have other associated medical conditions and are less healthy overall.
- To maintain healthy bones it’s important to get enough calcium and vitamin D. Calcium helps form and maintain strong bones and Vitamin D helps promote absorption of the calcium you eat. Eating foods high in calcium without getting enough vitamin D will probably not improve your bone health.
- The current recommended intake for Vitamin D is 10 mcg (400 IU) per day. For those at risk of poor vitamin D status, including those currently on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), 25 mcg (1000 IU) should be the goal. Osteoporosis Canada recommends at least 800 IU for adults over 50. Since vitamin D occurs in few foods (fish, fortified milk), supplements are a good idea.
- A healthy lifestyle helps prevent osteoporosis: not smoking, limiting alcohol, and exercising (especially weight-bearing activities) are all important.
Recommended Links
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Osteoporosis in Men - Andrology Australia
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Osteoporosis in Men - N.I.A.M.S.
