Men need calcium too. The body requires a certain amount of calcium to flow through its blood and soft tissues every day for muscles to contract correctly, blood to clot and nerves to carry messages. When men don’t get adequate amounts of dietary calcium, their bodies meet their calcium needs by stealing the mineral from their bones. This weakens the bones over time and contributes to the development of osteoporosis.

Calcium deficiency may also contribute to a number of other medical conditions, including hypertension, colon cancer and tooth loss.

Even though the majority of people affected by osteoporosis are women; 20 percent of men are affected also. Today, 2 million American men have osteoporosis, and another 12 million are at risk for this disease.

While most people think of calcium deficiency as a woman’s problem, of the 25 million Americans with osteoporosis, every one in five is a man. The percentage rises as age increases, so that after the age of 75, 50% of those affected are men.

There are also fewer instances of osteoporosis among men. Throughout life, bone density is affected by heredity, diet, sex hormones, physical activity, lifestyle choices, and the use of certain medications. Men have larger, stronger bones than women, which explains, in part, why osteoporosis affects fewer men than women. Bottom line, men can develop osteoporosis, suffer hip fractures and need to assure they get adequate calcium and vitamin D everyday

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease of the skeletal system in which the thickness of bones diminishes, leading to fragility and increased risk of fracture. Despite the fact that most people do not think men can develop osteoporosis, it does occur and can be associated with significant pain and suffering. Despite the fact that males have a larger increase in bone size and thickness compared to females during puberty(1), a recent study estimated that 3-6% (1-2 million) of non-Hispanic white American men fifty years of age or older have osteoporosis and 28-47% (8-13 million) have osteopenia or bone thinning(2). While women have a tendency to develop bone loss in their 50’s around the menopause, men don’t begin losing bone at the same rate as women until their mid to late 60’s(3). With the late onset of osteoporosis and subsequent hip fractures in men, they have a tendency to suffer diminished quality of life, chronic pain and even death.

Male osteoporosis is often associated with other medical problems and/or medications that predispose to bone loss and weakness. Medical conditions that can cause secondary osteoporosis in men at younger ages include:

		Thyroid disorders (hyperthyroidism)			Leukemia
		Diabetes			Chronic kidney disease
		Parathyroid disorders (hyperparathyroidism)			Cushing's disease
		Inflammatory bowel disease			Eating disorders
		Alcoholism
		Liver disease

Medications that can cause bone loss and subsequent osteoporosis include:

		Glucocorticoids ('cortisone type medications')
		Heparin
		Anti-seizure treatments, such as phenytoin and carbamazepine
		Excess thyroid medication
		Certain transplant medications

If you take any of these medications, you should discuss bone loss and osteoporosis testing with your health care provider. Obtaining enough calcium in your body is very important for preventing osteoporosis in men. In general, healthy men less than 50 years of age and not taking medications that can cause premature bone loss need 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day while those over 50 need 1,200 mg. Dietary intake of calcium rich foods, such as fortified orange juice and cereals, green leafy vegetables and dairy products like cheese, milk, ice cream and yogurt are excellent sources of calcium. Calcium supplements are also an excellent and convenient way to obtain adequate calcium. OsCal and TUMS are two well proven examples of calcium supplements that can be used to obtain adequate calcium intake.

References

1. Bonjour JP, Theintz G, Buchs B, Slosman D, Rizzoli R. Critical years and stages of puberty for spinal and femoral bone mass accumulation during adolescence. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1991;73:555-563.
2. Looker AC, Orwoll ES, Johnston CC, Jr., Lindsay RL, Wahner HW, Dunn WL, Calvo MS, Harris TB, Heyse SP. Prevalence of low femoral bone density in older U.S. adults from NHANES III. J Bone Miner Res 1997; 12:1761-1768.
3. http://www.nih.gov/news/WordonHealth/apr2004/osteomen.htm
   
   

The Osteoporosis Risk Factors for Men

		Age: Bone loss increases with age
		Heredity: A family history of osteoporosis
		Race: Of all men, white men appear to be at greatest risk for osteoporosis. However, men from all ethnic groups may develop osteoporosis
		Prolonged exposure to certain medications: for example, steroids used to treat asthma or arthritis, anticonvulsants, certain cancer treatments and aluminum-containing antacids
		Chronic disease that affects the kidneys, lungs, stomach, and intestines and alters hormone levels
		Undiagnosed low levels of the sex hormone testosterone
		Lifestyle habits: such as, smoking, excessive alcohol use, low calcium intake and inadequate physical exercise

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the third most common malignancy in US women. Much research is being done on the prevention of colon polyps, which is thought to reduce the risk of colon and rectal cancer. A large study by Dr. J. Baron revealed that calcium supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of recurrent colon and rectal polyps(1). This study used 1200 milligrams of calcium over a four-year period and found a 15% reduction in polyp recurrence. This reduction was seen within the first year of the study. Other studies have also revealed positive benefits from calcium supplementation and polyp protection. Therefore, consuming an adequate amount of calcium for optimal ‘bone health’ may also give protection from colon and rectal malignancies.

Further analysis of the data from the Dr. Baron study revealed continued optimism regarding calcium and colon cancer prevention. In this study, 803 men and women who had a prior colon polyp were given calcium (1200 milligrams) or placebo and followed for 4 years. The investigators measured levels of vitamin D in the study participants and found that the benefit of calcium on polyp prevention was seen in individuals with higher levels of vitamin D(2).

A new study by the American Cancer Society shows calcium may lower the risk of colon cancer for both men and women, while vitamin D might help cut risk in men. The effect was strongest in people who took supplements, rather than getting these nutrients from foods. McCullough and her colleagues studied more than 60,000 men and more than 66,000 women who were already participating in an American Cancer Society study of nutrition and cancer prevention. The participants were all between 50 and 74-years old when they enrolled in the study in 1992 and 1993. People who took calcium supplements had about a 30% lower risk of developing colon cancer than people who did not take supplements(3).

In the future, more studies are needed to determine the exact amount of calcium and vitamin D needed for colon cancer prevention.

References

1. Calcium Supplements for the Prevention of Colorectal Adenomas
   Baron, J.A., et al. N Engl J Med 1999; 340: 101-7.
2. Grau MV, Baron JA, Sandler RS, et al. Vitamin D, calcium supplementation, and colorectal adenomas : Results of a randomized trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 2003;23:1765-71.
3. Cancer Causes and Control (Vol. 14, No. 1: 1-12). http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_2_1x_Study_Calcium_
   May_Reduce_Risk_Of_Colon_Cancer.asp