The silent disease affects 500 million people worldwide

(Dan Tri) - Osteoporosis is the main cause of bone fractures, reduced mobility and reduced quality of life in the elderly.

Osteoporosis is a silent but dangerous disease, especially common in people aged 50 and older.

According to statistics from the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), osteoporosis affects approximately 500 million people globally, with 21.2% of women and 6.4% of men aged 50 and over suffering from the disease.

Each year, the world records 37 million cases of osteoporosis-related fractures in people over 55, equivalent to about 70 fractures per minute. It is estimated that one-third of women and one-fifth of men over 50 will experience at least one osteoporosis-related fracture.

Osteoporosis is a disease particularly common in people over 50, affecting approximately 500 million people worldwide (Illustrative image: Shutterstock).

This information was shared by MSc. Dr. Pham Ngoc Oanh, Head of the Nutrition - Non-Communicable Diseases Department, Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control, at a meeting of the Nutrition - Non-Communicable Diseases Club on the topic "Nutrients for Bones - Solutions to Support Osteoporosis in the Elderly" .

The doctor emphasized that osteoporosis is not only a global problem but is particularly concerning in rapidly aging countries and cities like Ho Chi Minh City, which currently has over 1.5 million elderly people, accounting for approximately 16% of the population.

This poses a significant challenge to the healthcare and social security systems, requiring comprehensive and sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life for older adults.

According to Dr. Oanh, to prevent and support the treatment of osteoporosis, each person needs a scientific diet. Especially for the elderly or those at risk of musculoskeletal diseases, ensuring adequate intake of essential nutrients is extremely important to maintain strong bones.

Calcium is an essential mineral that makes up the structure of bones and teeth, helps maintain stable bone density, prevents osteoporosis, and participates in other important functions of the body.

Natural sources of calcium can be found in foods such as milk, dairy products (cheese, yogurt), shrimp, crab, fish, and green vegetables like amaranth, spinach, and celery.

Magnesium and phosphorus are two important minerals that help bones develop and maintain a strong structure. These two substances are found in most foods, especially in legumes, grains, milk, eggs, beef, and chicken. Phosphorus is abundant in legumes, nuts, grains, milk, eggs, and various meats.

Vitamin D enhances the absorption of calcium and phosphorus through the digestive tract and reduces their excretion through the kidneys. The body primarily synthesizes vitamin D from sunlight and it can also be obtained from foods such as milk, egg yolks, and cod liver oil.

Vitamin K helps bind calcium to bones and participates in the blood clotting process. Foods rich in vitamin K are mainly dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, bok choy, kale, and broccoli. Additionally, vitamin K is found in eggs, meat, and oils such as soybean oil, sunflower oil, and grapeseed oil.

Protein is an essential component for building muscles, protecting the skeletal system, and reducing the risk of fractures due to muscle loss in older adults. Protein is abundant in meats, fish, eggs, milk, and legumes.

In addition, people also need to give up habits such as eating salty foods, smoking, and being sedentary. These habits all silently reduce bone density over time.

Eating too much salt causes the body to excrete calcium through urine, reducing the amount of calcium stored in the bones. The World Health Organization recommends that each person consume less than 5g of salt per day. However, this amount is still higher in Vietnam at 8.4g/day/person.

Smoking affects calcium absorption, inhibits the activity of bone-forming cells, and reduces bone density, leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Lack of physical activity causes muscle and bone density to weaken, leading to loss of muscle mass and increased risk of osteoporosis and falls in older adults.

Doctor Oanh advises everyone to exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes each day, 5 consecutive days a week, at a moderate intensity depending on their health condition, to help improve bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/can-benh-tham-lang-anh-huong-500-trieu-nguoi-tren-the-gioi-20250701085934612.htm