Take Your Calcium

A report came out today from HealthDay news, posted on Forbes.com, regarding the increased risk of bone fractures after Weight Loss Surgery (both gastric bypass and lap band). 

“About one in five cases reviewed by Mayo Clinic researchers revealed that the person fractured a bone within an average of seven years after the surgery. Most breaks occurred in the bones of the hands and feet, but hip, spine and humerus (upper arm bone) fractures also were found.” 

Here is a link to the article:  Forbes.com

A related article was posted on Physorg.com. 

Keep in mind the limitations of this study:  only 97 patients who had surgery between 1985 and 2004 were reviewed.  31 of those patients suffered fractures after surgery, leading researchers to conclude that bariatric surgery makes a person 1.8 times more likely to have  fracture at any site in the body.

There are steps that you can take to reduce your risk of bone fractures or osteoporosis after weight loss surgery:

• Take a multivitamin daily containing 100% of the adult RDA for the bone-building nutrients (calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and phosphorus.
• Do regular weight-bearing exercise to strengthen bone tissue.  Exercise also appears to facilitate the absorption of calcium and improves circulation.
• Maintain a healthy diet.  For example, high soda consumption, even diet versions – in particular dark colas – impede the uptake of calcium.  And a component of caffeinated beverages binds with calcium, making your body unable to use the mineral.  High protein diets that limit other nutrients also increases calcium loss.  Increasing fruit and vegetable intake provides nutrients not found in a multivitamin that helps strengthen bones.
• Avoid smoking and excess alcohol intake.  Bone density is up to 30% lower in women who smoke.
• Follow up with your doctor regularly for blood work (particularly vitamin D and Calcium levels as well as TSH to test thyroid function) and get a bone density test, especially if you fall into a high risk category.