Healthnotes Newswire (November 21, 2007)—Tea is the most popular beverage in the world, and tea drinking is widely thought to be a healthy habit, linked to lower risks of heart disease and cancer. Now research shows that older women who drink tea have stronger bones that are better preserved over time.
Healthnotes Newswire (August 16, 2007)—Wrist fractures can be serious business, such as when they lead to a condition called complex regional pain syndrome. According to a new study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, the syndrome might be avoided by taking vitamin C.
Healthnotes Newswire (August 2, 2007)—Good news for women looking for ways to keep their bones strong: an ingredient in soy may improve bone mineral density. A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that 54 mg per day of genistein, a type of isoflavone, had positive effects on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with mild loss of bone density (osteopenia).
Healthnotes Newswire (May 24, 2007)—People with arthritis often look for alternatives to drug medicine, but a new analysis has determined that chondroitin doesn’t reduce symptoms, despite some research to the contrary and the supplement’s loyal following of people who feel it has helped them.
Cartilage provides the cushion between bones that meet and form joints. It holds more water, is softer, and can repair and replace itself more quickly than bone. As we age, the repair process slows down and the layer of cartilage in the joints thins and can eventually disappear. Osteoarthritis is the joint condition marked by this thinning of cartilage and the resulting pain and stiffness.
Healthnotes Newswire (May 10, 2007)—A new study has concluded that vitamin D, mostly known for its beneficial relationship to calcium in promoting bone strength, may also help prevent colon cancer. Previous research had begun to uncover the mechanisms of this protective effect, but studies in humans have produced unclear results.
“The Women’s Health Initiative demonstrated that [supplementing with] a low dose of vitamin D did not protect against colorectal cancer within seven years of follow-up,” wrote Edward D. Gorham, PhD, of the Moores Cancer Center at the University of San Diego and lead author of the new study. But the analysis pooled data from five studies and showed something different: that a higher intake of vitamin D is associated with a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer.
Healthnotes Newswire (May 10, 2007)—A type of omega-3 fatty acid, found primarily in cold-water fish, helps to build strong bones, reports the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Most people associate osteoporosis with women, but the disease can also occur in men. Osteoporosis causes the bones to become weak and brittle, making them more prone to fractures. Whites and Asians are more likely to suffer from the disease. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, one in four men over age 50 will develop an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their lives.
