According to MSc. Dr. Nguyen Thi Anh Ngoc, Department of Musculoskeletal, Tam Anh General Hospital Hanoi , osteoporosis is a condition in which bone mineral density gradually decreases, making bones weaker, more brittle and more prone to fracture.
The process occurs silently, without obvious signs, so it is easily overlooked. Patients only discover it when complications such as chronic back pain, height loss or bone fractures occur, at which point treatment becomes complicated.
Vietnam is one of the countries with a high rate of osteoporosis. According to the results of bone density screening of nearly 100,000 people in 2023-2024 by the National Institute of Nutrition, up to 50% of people aged 40 and over are at risk of osteoporosis, of which 27% have actual osteoporosis. Notably, about 10% of women and 7% of men between the ages of 20 and 50 also have the disease. At Tam Anh General Hospital alone, young people account for 25% of the total number of recorded osteoporosis cases.
A typical case is Ms. Hanh (28 years old, Hanoi) who just gave birth to her first child. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, she did not drink milk or take calcium supplements because she was worried that her baby would be too big and difficult to give birth and was afraid of kidney stones. After giving birth, she was busy taking care of her young child, ate irregularly, and did not have the habit of being exposed to sunlight.
She began to experience back pain, fatigue in her limbs, and after a slight bump into the edge of the bed, severe pain in her hip. An X-ray showed a fractured pelvis. A bone density scan confirmed severe osteoporosis, and her vitamin D levels were also severely low.
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Another case is Mr. Hung (36 years old), who has been a vegetarian for 7 years and works from home. Due to little exposure to sunlight, he gradually developed symptoms of lower back pain and numbness in his limbs, but thought it was due to sitting in the wrong position. When examined at Tam Anh General Hospital, he was diagnosed with calcium and vitamin D deficiency, with bone density much lower than average for his age.
According to Dr. Ngoc, vegan diets that are not scientifically designed can easily lead to deficiencies in essential micronutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.
Lack of sunlight also reduces the ability to synthesize vitamin D from the skin - a factor necessary for calcium absorption in the intestine. This prolonged deficiency will lead to bone loss, early osteoporosis and increased risk of fractures, while also affecting the cardiovascular system and muscle contraction ability.
For Ms. Hanh and Mr. Hung, the doctor prescribed calcium and vitamin D supplements, dietary adjustments, increased exposure to sunlight, and appropriate exercise.
They will be monitored for bone density periodically to adjust the treatment regimen in time. In cases of severe osteoporosis or high risk of fracture, the doctor may prescribe intensive treatment drugs such as monoclonal antibodies (denosumab).
This is a new generation drug that can inhibit bone destruction, help increase bone density and effectively reduce the risk of fractures. Tam Anh General Hospital is currently one of the first units in Hanoi to implement treatment using this method.
Dr. Ngoc emphasized that calcium accounts for 99% of the minerals in bones and plays an essential role in the functioning of the nervous system, muscle contraction and blood clotting.
After the age of 30, bone density will gradually decrease each year. In women, the rate of bone loss increases rapidly after menopause in the first 5-10 years. In men, the rate of bone loss is slower but still worrying, especially in people who are sedentary, drink a lot of alcohol or have chronic diseases that cause malabsorption.
Many people mistakenly think that only the elderly need calcium supplements, but in fact, the highest calcium needs belong to adolescents during their growth period, pregnant and lactating women, and people over 50 years old.
The recommended calcium requirement for adults is about 1,000-1,200 mg per day, but the typical Vietnamese diet does not provide enough. In addition, the habit of eating salty foods, drinking coffee and alcohol also causes calcium to be excreted in the urine more than normal.
Preventing bone loss starts early. A balanced diet with milk and dairy products, small fish with bones, tofu, and dark green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and collard greens will help supplement calcium naturally.
Young children need to be breastfed fully and supplemented with vitamin D properly. Pregnant and postpartum women need to be guided to supplement appropriate micronutrients, avoiding misconceptions such as abstaining from milk or fearing that calcium causes kidney stones. Adults should be exposed to sunlight for 15-30 minutes a day to synthesize natural vitamin D, or supplement with pills as prescribed by a doctor if necessary.
In addition to diet, physical activity is also very important in preventing osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, climbing stairs, yoga, and light weight lifting help stimulate new bone formation and maintain bone strength. Regular exercise combined with a reasonable diet will help slow down bone loss due to aging.
Dr. Ngoc recommends that high-risk groups should have their bone density checked regularly, including: women over 65 years old, men over 70 years old, people who have had unusual bone fractures, are strict vegetarians, have chronic diseases such as digestive, liver and kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, chronic arthritis... or are taking drugs that affect bones such as corticosteroids.
Early diagnosis, timely intervention, and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits are three key factors that help young people prevent and effectively treat osteoporosis early.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/nguoi-tre-loang-xuong-som-do-an-uong-thieu-chat-va-it-van-dong-d340591.html
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