Asian American women are at high risk for developing osteoporosis (porous bones), a disease that is preventable and treatable. Studies that have been conducted on this population group indicate that Asian Americans share many of the risk factors that apply to Caucasian women. As an Asian American woman, it is important that you understand what osteoporosis is and what steps you can take to prevent or treat it.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease characterized by low bone mass and, thus, bones that are susceptible to fracture. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks, typically in the hip, spine, or wrist. A hip fracture can limit mobility and lead to a loss of independence, while a vertebral fracture can result in loss of height and stooped posture.

What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?

There are several factors that increase your chances of developing osteoporosis, including a thin, small-boned frame; previous fracture or family history of osteoporotic fracture; estrogen deficiency resulting from early menopause (before age 45), either naturally or from surgical removal of the ovaries or as a result of prolonged amenorrhea (abnormal absence of menstruation) in younger women; advanced age; a diet low in calcium; Caucasian and Asian ancestry (African American and Hispanic women are at lower but significant risk); cigarette smoking; excessive use of alcohol; and prolonged use of certain medications.

Recent studies indicate a number of facts that highlight the risk that Asian American women face with regard to developing osteoporosis:

	White women and Asian women have osteoporosis more often than black women, due largely to differences in bone mass and density.
	The average calcium intake among Asian women has been observed to be about half that of Western population groups. Calcium is essential for building and maintaining a healthy skeleton.
	Asian women generally have lower hip fracture rates than Caucasian women, although the prevalence of vertebral fractures among Asians seems to be as high as that in Caucasians. In recent decades, there has been a sharp increase in hip fracture incidence in some parts of the Far East; in fact, it is estimated that about half of the expected 6.3 million hip fractures worldwide in 2050 will occur in Asia.
	Slender women have less bone mass than heavy or obese women and are therefore at greater risk for osteoporotic bone fractures.

How can osteoporosis be prevented?

Building strong bones, especially before the age of 30, can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis, and a healthy lifestyle can be critically important for keeping bones strong. To help prevent osteoporosis:

	Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium
	Exercise regularly, especially weight-bearing activities
	Don't smoke and limit alcohol intake

Talk to your doctor if you have a family history of osteoporosis or no longer have the protective benefit of estrogen due to natural or surgically induced menopause. Your doctor may suggest that you have your bone density measured at menopause through a safe and painless test that can help predict your chance of fracturing in the future.

What treatments are available?

Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, there are treatments available to help stop further bone loss and reduce the risk of fractures:

	Alendronate and risedronate are bisphosphonates approved for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Alendronate is also approved for use by men and women with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and for the treatment of osteoporosis in men. In addition, risedronate is approved for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in both women and men.
	Calcitonin is another treatment used by women for osteoporosis.
	Raloxifene, a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, is approved for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
	Teriparatide is an injectable form of human parathyroid hormone that is approved for postmenopausal women and men with osteoporosis who are at high risk for having a fracture.
	Estrogen/hormone therapy is approved for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. It should only be considered for women at significant risk of osteoporosis and non-estrogen medications should be carefully considered.
	Treatments under investigation include sodium fluoride, vitamin D metabolites, and other bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulators.

Additional Resources

Office of Minority Health Resource Center
P.O. Box 37337
Washington, DC 20013
800-444-6472
(Fax) 301-589-0884

Revision Date: 1/2003

The NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center is supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases with contributions from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH Office of Research on Women's Health, DHHS Office on Women's Health, and National Institute on Aging.