Osteoporosis
Research
Alternative
& Complementary Therapies
Traditional
Chinese Medicine & Osteoporosis
According to reports from China,
Traditional Chinese Medicine may be very helpful for women concerned about
osteoporosis following the menopause. In one study (1), forty eight
perimenopausal women were divided into premenopausal (PrM) and post
menopausal (PoM) groups, and they were then sub-divided into Chinese
medicinal herbs (CM) and hormone therapy treatment groups with a further
twelve middle aged women serving as controls.
The results showed that the treatment group
had more balanced hormone levels , much higher levels of calcium in both
their blood and urine than the control group and a significantly stronger
bone density. In fact, the results were so good that the study was
followed up with a further research project at the Xiehe Hospital, Tongji
Medical University, Wuhan, China involving forty three healthy menopausal
women.
The women were divided into two groups
similar in age and menopausal period. The Chinese herb , Bushen Migu Ye (BSMGY)
, was given to the post menopausal women and the researchers then
monitored the effects on the bone density and serum calcium levels in the
women with biochemical parameters related to bone metabolism, serum
estradiol and forearm bone density which were taken before and then after
treatment.
The results showed that 5 months after the
treatment, the ulnar and radial bone mineral content was higher than that
of pre-treatmental value , while in control group this index was
continually decreased. The change in bone density were considered to be
statistically significant. The researchers concluded that BSMGY is able to
prevent the bone loss in post-menopausal women. This preliminary study
suggested that one of the therapeutic mechanism of BSMGY was probably due
to its effect on the reduction of bone resorption, but had no primary
effect on the bone formation in post menopausal women.
(1) Huang YH; Ye XQ [Bone metabolism and
Chinese medicinal treatment of menopausal osteoporosis] Chung Kuo Chung
Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih (CHINA) Sep 1993, 13 (9) p522-4, 515
(2)Shen L; Du JY; Yang JY [Preliminary clinical study on prevention of
bone loss in post menopausal women with kidney invigoration] Chung Kuo
Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih (CHINA) Sep 1994, 14 (9) p515-8,
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Vegetarianism &
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is the loss of calcium
from bone tissue, leading to bones that are brittle and liable to
fracture. It is most commonly seen in postmenopausal women.
Some studies have suggested that vegetarians may be at lower risk of
osteoporosis than non-vegetarians. Marsh (1988) found bone loss to be
considerably less in postmenopausal women who were vegetarian than those
who were non-vegetarian. The non-vegetarian diet contained higher amounts
of sulphur, which derived from animal protein. Dietary sulphur increases
the acidity of urine, which results in increased urinary calcium loss.
Increased urinary calcium loss is related to increased calcium loss from
bone tissue.
Hip fractures associated with osteoporosis has been shown to be higher
in countries consuming a diet high in animal protein (Abe low, 1992).
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Nutritional
therapy & Osteoporosis
There is an increasing tendency for post-menopausal women to be advised
to take HRT to treat and prevent osteoporosis. Evidence from large
observation studies both in Scandinavia and the US claim that a reduction of
the order of 40% of osteoporotic hip fractures may be expected from HRT.
However, not all clinicians agree that post-menopausal women should
automatically be prescribed HRT and suggest that, at the very least, there
is a need to identify high risk groups before embarking on therapy. Such
groups would include those involved in long term corticosteroid or thyroxine
users, early hysterectomy or oophorectomy patients, patients with coronary
artery disease, diabetics and familial hyperlipidaemia cases.
Substantial double blinded
trials involving randomised controls are difficult (if not impossible) in
this complex area. Many patients are also sometimes not entirely happy about
the potential side effects which can result from manipulating their hormone
state. Evidence shows that nutritional therapy can help in the prevention
and treatment of osteoporosis. Another recent review of common risk factors
for both osteoporosis and coronary heart disease (increasing age, female
sex, family history, smoking, alcohol abuse, premature menopause, female
hypogonadism and lack of exercise) tabulates specific risk factors which,
for osteoporosis, include gastrectomy, malabsorption syndromes, long term
corticosteroid use, and high dietary intake of animal protein. One more
natural therapy which has been shown to affect osteoporosis is Chinese
herbal medicine. In light of the accumulating evidence, it seems ridiculous
that current anti-osteoporosis approaches in conventional medicine continue
to overlook cheap and safe therapeutic modalities.
1.La Rose, J.C., Has HRT come
of age? Lancet 1995; 345; 76-77
2.Coope, J.K.M., HRT, a General Practice approach: how to reach the most
vulnerable BJCP 1996; 50:38-40
3.Waine C., Prevention of both osteoporosis and coronary heart disease, BJCP
1996; 50: 44-46
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