骨质疏松症是缺乏维生素C导致的骨骼坏血病，不是缺钙

Osteoporosis Is Scurvy of the Bone, Not Calcium Deficiency

　

缺钙可能不是骨质疏松的原因，尽管一直以来预防和治疗骨质疏松症的想到的营养素是钙。

骨骼健康需要钙，镁和磷来维持力量和促进新的细胞生长。随着年龄的增长，一个不幸的结果就是骨质密度的下降——尤其是女性。

骨质疏松症的真正原因
然而，骨质疏松症的病因可能不是缺钙，而是你可能没有考虑到的疾病:坏血病-一种因缺少抗坏血酸即维生素C导致的营养缺乏病。

　

图左：低骨胶原骨质 图右：健康的骨胶原

人体不产生维生素C，这就是为什么它被称为“必需的”维生素。这一种营养素对免疫系统的正常运作至关重要——你猜对了——保持骨骼健康。

治疗骨质疏松症
骨质疏松症的诊断伴随着钙的补充，通常是双磷酸盐的处方，如Actonel, Fosamax，或Reclast。与所有药物一样，这类药物可能有严重的副作用:肾功能障碍、眼部炎症、食道癌和慢性疼痛。

双磷酸盐通过与钙结合抑制骨细胞的再吸收，有效地防止了骨质量的进一步损失。因此，它们影响骨骼钙的可用性和有效性，只提供一个临时的解决方案，以防止骨折。这些药物的长期使用正在审查中，积累的证据表明，如果需要的话，应该限制使用。

对于骨质疏松症患者，补钙的处方弊大于利，尤其是与双磷酸盐一起服用时。体内过多的钙会聚集在一起，形成动脉和器官的内壁。我们知道发生这种情况的后果:心脏病、中风、肾结石和胆结石。

另一个导致钙化的原因。
高血压通常用噻嗪类利尿剂治疗，以减少体内液体和扩张血管。这种药物的副作用是钙的滞留和镁、钾的流失。没有营养平衡，骨头受损，其他地方可能发生钙化。

对强健骨骼至关重要的维生素
维生素C通过促进胶原蛋白的生成、愈合骨折和通过创造称为成骨细胞的新骨细胞使骨骼更致密来预防和治疗骨质疏松症(2)。有研究表明，骨折患者体内的维生素C含量较低(3)，维生素C是一种强大的抗氧化剂;正是氧化作用导致细胞老化。

维生素C丰富的食物

维生素K对骨骼健康也很重要。这种维生素存在于绿叶蔬菜和十字花科蔬菜、发酵乳制品、蛋黄和肉类中，它负责生成骨骼蛋白。维生素D3是细胞吸收钙所必需的，这也是它被添加到加工食品中的原因。当骨骼中有足够的钙时，维生素D帮助骨骼细胞吸收其他必需的矿物质(镁和磷)以保持密度。

负重锻炼不仅对你的肌肉有好处，对你的骨骼也有好处。定期举重和/或阻力训练将锻炼你的骨骼和抑制密度损失。

吞下一颗药丸比在各种各样的食物周围计划你的膳食以获得适当的营养要容易得多。如果骨质疏松症的病因是维生素缺乏，那么如果你有风险，服用补充剂可能是最好的选择。

　

Osteoporosis Is Scurvy of the Bone, Not Calcium Deficiency

by DailyHealthPost EditorialOctober 12, 2016

calcium-deficiency-may-not-be-the-cause-of-osteoporosis The go-to nutrient for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis has historically been calcium.

 

Bone health requires calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus to maintain strength and promote new cell growth. As people age, one of the unfortunate results is often loss of bone density—especially in women.

 

The Real Cause Of Osteoporosis

The cause of osteoporosis, however, might not be a calcium deficiency but something you might not have considered: scurvy.

 

The human body doesn’t create vitamin C, which is why it’s referred to as an “essential” vitamin. This one nutrient is vitally important for proper functioning of the immune system and—you guessed it—maintenance of healthy bones.

 

Treating Osteoporosis

With a diagnosis of osteoporosis comes calcium supplementation and often a prescription of a bisphosphonate like Actonel, Fosamax, or Reclast. As with all pharmaceuticals, this type of drug can have serious adverse side effects: kidney dysfunction, eye inflammation, esophageal cancer, and chronic pain (1).

 

Bisphosphonates are effective in preventing further loss of bone mass by inhibiting the re-absorption of bone cells by binding to calcium. They therefore affect the usability and availability of calcium by bones, serving only a temporary solution against bone fracture. Long-term use of these medications is under review and the accumulated evidence suggests use should be limited, if prescribed at all.

 

The prescription of calcium supplements for people with osteoporosis can do more harm than good, especially when taken with a bisphosphonate. Too much calcium in the body will clump together, lining arteries and organs. We know the result when that happens: heart attack, stroke, and kidney and gallstones.

 

Another culprit for calcification.

 

Hypertension is often treated with a thiazide diuretic to reduce fluids in the body and dilate blood vessels. A side effect of this type of drug is the retention of calcium and loss of magnesium and potassium. Without nutritional balance, bones suffer and calcification elsewhere can occur.

 

Critical Vitamins for Strong Bones

Vitamin C prevents and treats osteoporosis by promoting collagen production, healing fractures, and making bones denser through the creation of new bone cells called osteoblasts (2). With inadequate levels of vitamin C, bone cells degrade. There have been studies that show a correlation of low levels of vitamin C in people who suffer bone fractures (3). Vitamin C is a formidable antioxidant; it’s oxidation that causes cells to age. Find a list of foods rich in vitamin C here.

 

Vitamin K is also critical for bone health. Found in leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables, fermented dairy, egg yolks, and meat, this vitamin is responsible for building bone proteins. Vitamin D3 is necessary for cells to absorb calcium, which is why it’s added to processed foods. When there is enough calcium in the bones, vitamin D helps bone cells to absorb the other necessary minerals (magnesium and phosphorus) to maintain density (4).

 

Weight-bearing exercises are good not only for your muscles but the bones under them. Regular lifting of weights and/or resistance training will exercise your bones and inhibit density loss.

 

Supplementation

It’s easier to swallow a pill than to plan your meals around a variety of foods to gain proper nutrition. If the cause of osteoporosis is a vitamin deficiency, then taking a supplement may seem the best thing to do if you are at risk.

 

But be wary of dietary supplements:

 

Synthetic vitamins don’t metabolize like nutrients from food (5)

Other ingredients in supplements can cause adverse reactions

Supplements can contain non-medicinal ingredients like aspartame, genetically-modified organisms, sorbitol, sugars, and other hazardous substances—read the label (6)

Nutrients often depend on other nutrients to work inside the body properly—you don’t want to create an imbalance by supplementing one particular nutrient without knowing the big picture.

Some supplements are contraindicated with certain medications; if you are taking anything, consult your healthcare provider or nutritionist before self-medicating.

Vitamin supplements aren’t regulated in the United States. Do your research so you know exactly what you’re taking.

Emergen-C is a popular vitamin C supplement. Don’t use it. Ascorbic acid is one component of what is referred to as “vitamin C” and is the active ingredient in this supplement. Other  harmful ingredients in Emergen-C include fructose [sugar], maltodextrin [sugar], silicon dioxide, and “natural flavors”.) Without the other phytochemicals that occur naturally to form the complex of the nutrient, there is the potential to overdose on ascorbic acid and cause damage. While it’s true that you can’t overdose on vitamin C (your body will eliminate any excess), ascorbic acid isn’t the same thing. If you like the convenience of a powder, you can peel some oranges, allow them to dry, and grind them up.

If you opt for a supplement, choose one that is made from whole foods.

As we age, our nutritional needs become even more important, as caloric intake may decrease and the body takes longer to heal. If you have osteoporosis or are at risk to develop it, a simple vitamin deficiency may be the cause.

 

Check your diet and incorporate more foods with the nutrients you require. You can find a list of vitamin C foods here, along with a discussion on this essential nutrient.

https://dailyhealthpost.com/cause-of-osteoporosis/