The
best way to determine your personal risk is to have
a bone mass density test. Several types of devices
measure loss in bone mass density and indicate
development
of osteoporosis with a high degree of accuracy. These devices, such as
DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) and Achilles
(ultrasonometer) scans, give
scores that indicate
bone loss compared to normal healthy subjects.
It is important to be
able to understand exactly what your scores mean
when reviewing your bone density tests. DEXA scans,
for
instance, tell
you what
your actual
Bone Mass Density (BMD) is at each area measured in g/cm (squared).
However, this number by itself does not tell much,
so researchers have devised
scales to better understand what your BMD scores actually mean. These
are the
numbers you should locate in your report.
T-Score
A T-score is the most important score on a DEXA scan. It reveals the status
of your bone density/bone loss by comparing your BMD to the average healthy
30 year-old
woman, or man, depending on your sex. This is the score used to designate your
condition and to determine fracture risk.
The T-score (Table 1.) uses an exponential
scale, meaning that risk increases at a faster rate with higher a score.
A change from -2.0 in your T-score to
-3.0 is far greater than one from -1.0 to -2.0.
Z-Score
Instead of comparing BMD to that of a healthy 30-year old, the Z-score compares
you to men or women of your age. This score shows how well you are doing relative
to the average effects of aging on bone mass density. This score is not always
given on your bone scan report, but it is helpful to be able to see your risk
compared to others in your age group.
Changes
in Bone Mass Density (BMD)
If you have had more than one DEXA scan your report
should indicate any changes in bone mass density
since your previous scan. This information indicates
how
fast you are losing (or gaining) BMD in the period of time between scans. If
you have had more than two scans your most current report should also list
a percentage change from your baseline, or first, score. This percentage indicates
how much change has occurred since your first test, rather than from your previous
test. This is also important in helping to determining the trend of your BMD.
As
a rough guideline, with normal, healthy aging, you
would expect to lose 1% of BMD per year. Anything
greater than a 1% loss indicates accelerated loss
and
requires additional attention to diet, exercise and supplementation.
Translating
Your Scores Into Fracture Risk
You should look at, and understand, the scores for each area measured to
know where you are at greatest risk for fracture. It is common for people
to have
normal, healthy bone tissue in one location and severe osteoporosis in another.
Some-times people have healthy bone in the lower spine and extreme deterioration
in the hip, or vice versa.
What is missing from your scan reports
is an understanding of your actual fracture risk, which
is why you would want to take a bone
scan in the first
place. It
is generally up to your physician to interpret your scores, give you an
idea of your risk of fracture and then suggest corrective
measures. Review the
chart above to see what your relative risk of fracture is based on your
T-score for
each bone tissue measured. Using the chart you can also determine how much
your fracture risk has changed between bones scans. Each change of 1 standard
deviation
(SD) in your T-score accounts for a 50% change in fracture risk.
Using
OsteoPhase®
OsteoPhase is an advanced nutritional formula consisting
of a proprietary blend of herbal extracts and
marine peptides that have been studied for
their role
in supporting healthy bone structure and calcium homeostasis. OsteoPhase
has been shown to significantly reverse bone loss and enhance bone
density, as
determined by bone mineral density (BMD) measurements.
OsteoPhase
is very safe for daily use. The herbs in OsteoPhase
are commonly used in health formulations throughout
Asia, the US and Europe to aid in
maintaining optimal health.
OsteoPhase exerts its benefits while
providing less than 125
mg. of calcium per day – far below the 1000 to 1500 mg. recommended
in the US – indicating that OsteoPhase works by regulating calcium
homeostasis, not by calcium supplementation. OsteoPhase regulates how
calcium is used in the
body to accomplish much more than just strengthening bones. Additional
benefits of regular use include improved immune system function, enhanced
cell regulation,
and improved overall health for both men and women.
