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Osteoporosis – What You Should Know and How to Help Prevent and Reverse SymptomsBy Suzanne Krupskas
Osteoporosis is generally regarded as a metabolic bone disorder. The rate of bone loss (resorption) speeds up while the rate of making new bone slows down. It is common to see osteoporosis in people of all ages who have Gaucher disease. Levels of calcium and phosphate salts decline so that the bones become porous, brittle and susceptible to fractures. Hence, there is less bone (or skeletal mass) in the body and the bones become fragile. There are many causes of osteoporosis. When osteoporosis is caused by Gaucher disease, it is most often due to the accumulation of fatty cells that cannot be broken down due to a deficiency of an enzyme called glucocerebrosidase. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down these fatty cells, but with Gaucher disease, people lack a percentage or all of this enzyme. The more the fatty cells accumulate in the bones, the greater the bone involvement, such as osteoporosis. Following is an explanation of how and why the enzyme glucocerebrosidase works. The human body contains cells called macrophages that remove worn-out cells by degrading them into simple molecules for recycling. The macrophages eat worn-out cells and degrade them inside cell compartments called lysosomes, which serve as the digestive tract for the cells. The enzyme glucocerebrosidase is located within the lysosomes and is responsible for breaking down the fatty substance glucocerebroside into glucose and a fat called ceramide. Individuals with Gaucher disease lack the normal form of the glucocerebrosidase enzyme and are unable to break down glucocerebroside. As a result, the glucocerebroside remains stored within the lysosomes, preventing the macrophages from functioning normally. Enlarged macrophages containing undigested glucocerebroside are called Gaucher cells. Hence, Gaucher disease is often referred to as a lysosomal storage disease. This is because the enzyme is not working properly and these undigested cells are stored and accumulate in various parts of the body such as the liver, spleen and bones. This abnormal storage compromises the bone in the marrow and the outer components of the bone structure. When the skeletal system has been compromised by Gaucher disease, it is helpful to treat it with a triad approach to attain and maximize a healthy body. The triad approach consists of treatment, proper diet (healthy food choices, supplements suggested and recommended by your physician) and a good anti-osteoporotic exercise regimen. The nutritional aspect of osteoporosis is often overlooked. Studies have shown that an intake of sugar, coffee, caffeine, a high meat diet and cigarette smoking worsens the osteoporosis condition. Sugar robs calcium from the bones, excess sodium causes the loss of large amounts of calcium in the urine, and chocolate contains oxalic acid and prevents the absorption of calcium. Drugs such as diuretics inhibit calcium assimilation. Excess protein, meat, alcohol and the solanum genus of vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and bell peppers contain the calcium inhibitor solanine.
A recommended diet for osteoporosis from John R. Lee, M.D., of Sebastopol, California,an Osteoporosis specialist, is the following: whole grains (brown rice, Spirulina), legumes (pinto beans), fruits, vegetables (especially collards, kale, broccoli and turnip greens), nuts (especially almonds and hazelnuts); seeds (especially sesame) and salmon. If dairy products are consumed, yogurt is the preferred source, since many people are lactose intolerant. In yogurt and other fermented dairy products, the lactose has been consumed by the fermenting culture. According to Dr. Lee, it is also important to get adequate amounts of essential fatty acids (EFAs). Research has shown that two essential fatty acids in particular contribute to calcium balance and bone calcium content. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), an omega 3 EFA found in fish such as salmon, cod and mackerel, and GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), an omega 6 EFA found in evening primrose, black currant and borage oils. Research has also found that a diet high in soy foods appears to help prevent osteoporosis. Soy protein does not cause calcium excretion like animal protein. In addition, tofu, tempeh, and other soy foods contain calcium and plant estrogens, or phytoestrogens. Studies have shown that isoflavones in soybeans have a direct benefit on bone health, possibly by inhibiting bone resorption. Phytoestrogens are so named because they can act like hormonal estrogen in the body, attaching to estrogen receptor sites helping to restrain bone loss. Some health practitioners recommend calcium supplements. There are various types: calcium citrate, calcium lactate and calcium aspartate. Some physicians recommend supplements of natural microcrystalline calcium hydroxypatite complex, a compound of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, and fluoride, in amounts equal to the normal physiological proportions found in bone. This particular supplement has been found to not only halt bone loss but also restore bone mass in cases of osteoporosis. Below is an anti-osteoporosis supplement program suggested by Susan Brown, Ph.D., Director of the Osteoporosis Education Project in Syracuse, NY and author of Better Bones, Better Body. (Note: Please consult with your physician before starting any supplemental regimen.)
Regular exercise that delivers a force of impact to the bones, what is called weight-bearing exercise builds bones. The force does not have to be strenuous or vigorous. It is important to keep in mind that if there is too much force on the bone(s), spontaneous fractures may occur. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking or lifting weights, are very beneficial whereas swimming or aquatic exercises do not offer enough bone resistance. As a result, for a thorough anti-osteoporotic exercise program there must be some form of resistance, either through a weight-bearing regimen (treadmill, walking outdoors, hiking and elliptical training), using resistive bands and performing exercises on weight machines or using free weights. Our bones are living, growing tissue that respond to weight bearing exercise by growing denser and stronger, similar to the way our muscles react to exercise. You only have one body and one skeletal system. Proper diet and exercise can contribute greatly to its overall maintenance. You only have one body and one skeletal system. Proper diet and exercise can contribute greatly to its overall maintenance. Suzanne recommends these books and articles as excellent resources:
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I hope this information will help you to better understand osteoporosis as it relates to Gaucher disease and offer suggestions to help combat its affects.
Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., a nutritional consultant in Santa Monica, California, believes that the standard American diet produces metabolic imbalances that reduce absorption and retention of minerals, including calcium. A diet of excess protein, dairy products, sugar, soft drinks, alcohol, caffeine and fried foods has an acidifying effect on the body, causing these minerals to be drawn from the bones.
We are all aware that exercise is good for us in general, but it is especially important for anyone who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis. (Note: Please consult with your physician before starting any exercise program.)| Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Copyright © 2010 National Gaucher Foundation All Rights Reserved. |
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