DEXA Scan. Is Osteoporosis Overdiagnosed?
My view on what is faulty with a DEXA scan and why I think you still should get a DEXA scan.
Yesterday's post on calcium set the stage for today’s post on bone health and the DEXA scan.
I conclude this post with my reasons for thinking multiple DEXA scans (over the years) can be beneficial.
Women are going to have more bone density issues than men because of less testosterone production and because women have smaller bones than men.
Below are some reasons why your bone density can decrease
Age (over 50)
Female
Menopause
Family history
Eating an acid-forming diet (refined processed food diet)
Nutrient deficiencies (i.e., calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and K)
Low stomach acid
longterm antacid use
Lactose intolerance
Gut dysbiosis
Low estrogen (amenorrhea)
Low DHEA and T
Birth control pills
Sedentary lifestyle (no weight-bearing exercise)
Smoking
Medications (i.e., PPI, SSRI, glucocorticoids)
Alcohol (interferes with calcium absorption)
Heavy metals toxicity (cadmium. Lead)
Hypothyroidism
Bone medications (i.e., Fosamax builds weak and brittle bone and blocks osteoblast remodeling)
The information below is taken from the Greenmedinfo site.
This section discusses what you need to know about your DEXA scan results before you get one done.
The Manufacturing of Bone Diseases
The present-day definitions of osteopenia and osteoporosis were arbitrarily conceived by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the early '90s and then projected upon millions of women's bodies seemingly in order to convince them they had a drug-treatable, though symptomless, disease.
Osteopenia (1992)[i] and osteoporosis (1994)[ii] were formally identified as skeletal diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO) as bone mineral densities (BMD) 1 and 2.5 standard deviations, respectively, below the peak bone mass of an average young adult Caucasian female, as measured by an X-ray device known as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, or DEXA).
This technical definition, now used widely around the world as the gold standard, is disturbingly inept and, as you shall see, likely conceals an agenda that has nothing to do with the promotion of health.
These are my sentiments exactly below but stated in a greenmedinfo.com article.
The choice of an average young adult female (approximately 30 years old) at peak bone mass in the human lifecycle as the new standard of normality for all women 30 or older, was, of course, not only completely arbitrary but also highly illogical. After all, why should an 80-year-old's bones be defined as "abnormal" if they are less dense than a 30-year-old's?
Bone Mineral Density Is NOT Equivalent to Bone Strength
As you can see there are a number of insurmountable problems with the WHO's definitions, but perhaps the most fatal flaw is the fact that the DXA is only capable of revealing the mineral density of the bone, and this is not the same thing as bone quality/strength.
While there is a correlation between bone mineral density and bone quality/strength — that is to say, they overlap in places — they are not equivalent. In other words, density, while an excellent indicator of compressive strength (resisting breaking when being crushed by a static weight), is not an accurate indicator of tensile strength (resisting breaking when being pulled or stretched).
Indeed, in some cases having higher bone density indicates that the bone is actually weaker. Glass, for instance, has high density and compressive strength, but it is extremely brittle and lacks the tensile strength required to withstand easily shattering in a fall. Wood, on the other hand, which is closer in nature to human bone than glass or stone, is less dense relative to these materials, but also extremely strong relative to them, capable of bending and stretching to withstand the very same forces that the bone is faced with during a fall.
The mega-dose calcium supplements being taken by millions of women to "increase bone mineral density" are known to increase the risk of heart attack by 24% to 27%, according to two 2011 meta-analyses published in Lancet, and 86% according to a more recent meta-analysis published in the journal Heart. Given the overwhelming evidence, the 1,200+ milligrams of elemental calcium the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) recommends women 50 and older take to "protect their bones" may very well be inducing coronary artery spasms, heart attacks and calcified arterial plaque in millions of women.
Considering that the NOF named calcium supplement manufacturers Citrical and Oscal as corporate sponsors, it is unlikely their message will change anytime soon.
Based on the above information, do not compare your bone density health to that of a 30-year-old Caucasian woman unless you, too, are 30 years old, female, and Caucasian.
Get your bone health nutrients from food first, not supplements. But that does not mean that “some” people will not benefit from a bone supplement (not a calcium supplement).
1500 mg of calcium in a supplement is probably too much, but it is supported because of its corporate sponsors.
I am skeptical of any screening test. Is it a screening test to guide you on diet and lifestyle changes, or is it a test to encourage more medication use? The skeptic in me says the latter.
How to Support Bone Health
As you age, it does not mean you have to stop exercising. Walking is terrific, but adding in strength training is even better for bone health. This doesn’t mean you have to join a gym. A couple of kettlebells or dumbbells can do the trick.
Do heel drops. I do these when I have to wait in lines because I am impatient, and I feel that I am being productive while I wait. (other times, I do quad stresses in lines) To do a heel drop, raise both heels at once and “drop” then hard back onto the ground.
Identify what could be causing bone loss for you. Is it an acidic diet, excess alcohol, or low stomach acid, for instance? All of this can be remedied.
Nutrients Needed for Bone Health
Calcium: Bone strength and an essential bone-building block (see my post on calcium)
Zinc: Increases osteoblasts and mineralization
Copper: Bone flexibility and strength
Magnesium: Increases osteoblasts and regulates vitamin D
Potassium: Increases bone mineral density
Vitamin C: Synthesizes healthy collagen and regulates homeostasis for healthy bones.
Vitamin D: Facilitates calcium absorption in the intestines and is critical in bone remodeling.
Vitamin K: Aids in calcium absorption and improves bone turnover
Boron: Plays a role in calcium metabolism and bone maintenance
Manganese: Assists the body to form connective tissue and bones.
Should You Get a DEXA Scan?
You should compare your DEXA scan to your previous DEXA scans. Are your test results staying steady over time, or is there a dramatic change? Comparing your scans will be the best indicator of your bone health, not comparing your scan to 30-year-old white women.
Get your bone nutrients from food first. Choose organic as much as possible. Address the issues impacting nutrient absorption (low HCL is more common than you may realize and will impact absorption).
Bottom Line: Think of bone health as a recipe with many ingredients. Support your bones via diet and lifestyle. Get DEXA scans to compare your bone health as you age but not your bone health to other’s bone health.
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This is NOT information allopathic practitioners will share with you.