“Are there any new ways to treat osteoporosis?”

When the hormone level drops, bone strength is very often weakened, which can be determined using radiological bone density measurements. From the age of 60 every third woman suffers from osteoporosis, from the age of 80 even two thirds are affected.

As early as the age of 40 – and especially after menopause – bone loss slips into a negative equilibrium, and the risk of fractures tends to increase. Excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption, diabetes mellitus, and long-term cortisone treatment aggravate this natural breakdown. 1000 to 1500 milligrams of calcium should be consumed daily, preferably with food or as tablets. The vitamin D level should be above 30 ng / ml. There is insufficient scientific evidence for this often discussed value, as Prof. Heinrich Resch from the Sisters of Mercy Vienna explains.

A new antibody works

Your doctor will weigh up which therapy is right for you: hormone therapy, selective estrogen modulators such as raloxifene or bisphosphonates, which counteract the bone-degrading osteoclasts, are among the most important treatment options. But there are actually new pharmacological approaches. According to Prof. Resch, two of them are very promising. The antibody denosumab fiercely counteracts an important mediator that promotes bone loss, and a hormone-like substance called teriporotide, which stimulates the bone-forming osteoblasts, is new hope.

Whichever therapy is recommended to you: Make sure that you do not put excessive strain on your bones and that you can enjoy the days without injury.

Do you have any questions about health?

Write OÖN doctor Johannes Neuhofer (dermatologist), who is in charge of this column with a team of doctors: Clemens Steinwender (cardiologist), Reinhold Függer (surgeon), Rainer Schöfl (gastroenterologist), Josef Hochreiter (orthopedist), Werner Schöny (psychiatrist).