WUSTL researcher Kathryn Diemer, clinical director of WUSTL's Bone Health Program, talks about bone-mineral density and other fracture risks in aging women.

References:

1. April 1, 2008 — Reverse Your Risk in the Good Housekeeping

Women who get calcium from food have higher bone density than those who get calcium from supplements, a study has found. This is true even if the supplements contain more total calcium than the diet with which they are compared.
In the study was published in the May edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
WUSTL bone and mineral diseases specialist and lead author Reina Armamento-Villareal comments.

References:

1. June 25, 2007 — Calcium from food may work harder in the The Los Angeles Times

Michael Whyte of Washington University comments on research he's conducted to determine a chromosomal source of X-linked recessive hypoparathyroidism, which can cause seizures in those who have the illness. Treatment includes high doses of vitamin D to return blood calcium to normal levels.

References:

1. Feb. 7, 2006 — Scientists sort through 'junk' to unravel a genetic mystery in the The New York Times

It has been suggested that eating only plant-derived foods that have not been cooked or processed might make bones thinner and prone to fractures. But a study in Archives of Internal Medicine found although bones were lighter on this diet, turnover rates were normal with no osteoporosis.
The study led by WUSTl researcher Luigi Fontana finds that vegans don't have increased risk of fracture but that their low bone mass is related to the fact that they are lighter because they take in fewer calories. The raw food diet group also had higher vitamin D levels than people on a typical Western diet, even though they did not consume dairy products which are known to be a good source of vitamin D.

References:

1. March 29, 2005 — Raw food eaters thin but healthy in the BBC News online (UK)

and 31 others.

A combination of both the blood PSA test and the digital rectal exam appears to work best for detecting prostate cancer, according to early results from an ongoing study by WUSTL researchers led by Gerald Andriole.

References:

1. March 24, 2005 — PSA Test Plus Digital Exam Best at Spotting Prostate Cancer in the ABC News online

and 4 others.

U.S. researchers said about one in five people carries a genetic variation that may increase the risk of osteoporosis. WUSTL researchers found in women the variant gene involved speeds up the breakdown of estrogen and is associated with low density in the hip bones.

References:

1. Feb. 3, 2005 — One in five carries osteoporosis gene in the Washington Times

and 7 others.

Instant tea may be a source of harmful levels of fluoride that can lead to bone pain, WUSTL researchers discovered after they looked into the case of a woman with spinal pain who drank one to two gallons of super-strength tea daily. WUSTL researcher Michael Whyte comments.

References:

1. Jan. 26, 2005 — Instant Tea May Have Too Much Fluoride in the Associated Press Online
2. Jan. 26, 2005 — Doctor uncovers surprising cause for woman’s mysterious illness in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

and 126 others.