Effects Of Vitamin D And Calcium On Bone Strength, Balance And Falls In Elderly Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,900.00
Summary
Many osteoporotic fractures occur as a result of bone fragility and falls. Both falls and fractures are huge public health problems in Australia. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization and death in person older than 65 years of age. During 1996 almost 36,000 people attended a hospital after a fall and 5% of these resulted in fracturing a bone. The incidence of fall-related hospital admission increases exponentially with age, reaching 4% per annum for men and 7% per annum f ....Many osteoporotic fractures occur as a result of bone fragility and falls. Both falls and fractures are huge public health problems in Australia. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization and death in person older than 65 years of age. During 1996 almost 36,000 people attended a hospital after a fall and 5% of these resulted in fracturing a bone. The incidence of fall-related hospital admission increases exponentially with age, reaching 4% per annum for men and 7% per annum for women aged 85 years and older. In the community approximately one third of older people fall each year. Compared to men, women are three times more likely to be hospitalized or one and half times more likely to die from a fall-related injury. Importantly women have an increased risk of fracture and over 40% of women over the age of 50 will break a bone. Previous European and American studies suggest that calcium replacement may improve bone strength while vitamin D may reduce falls. However, the separation of these two effects has never been studied. We have previously studied elderly falling women who attended the Emergency Department of large teaching hospitals in Perth and have shown that many are calcium and vitamin D deficient. We are undertaking a short term randomized controlled trial of calcium alone or calcium with vitamin D, to study the effects on bone strength as measured non-invasively, balance and falls in this high risk group of subjects. We have already recruited 100 subjects and six subjects have completed their 6 months assessment. We plan to recruit the remaining 200 subjects during the following 12 months and give all subjects one year of treatment. At the end of this study we should be able to offer clear treatment guidelines for this high risk group of patients.Read moreRead less
Does An Annual High Dose Vitamin D Supplement Decrease Healthcare Utilisation In Older Women?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,995.00
Summary
The shorter bleaker days of winter can cause a vitamin D deficiency in Australian women, increasing their risk of osteoporosis and broken bones including hip fracture. New research suggests that the low winter levels of the vitamin may not be good for us in many ways and the NHMRC is funding a Geelong-based study to determine if Austrlia's elderly can improve their overall health by taking a once-a-year dose of vitamin D tablets.
Fractures, in particular femoral neck (FN) fractures, are a huge public health problem resulting in disabilities, mortality and financial cost to the community. The prevention of these fractures is based on estimation of bone strength. The decision whether someone needs treatment, or the effectiveness of a treatment can only be judged by estimating bone strength. The bottom line is that currently we cannot correctly estimate bone strength. Present methods such as bone mineral density (BMD) perfo ....Fractures, in particular femoral neck (FN) fractures, are a huge public health problem resulting in disabilities, mortality and financial cost to the community. The prevention of these fractures is based on estimation of bone strength. The decision whether someone needs treatment, or the effectiveness of a treatment can only be judged by estimating bone strength. The bottom line is that currently we cannot correctly estimate bone strength. Present methods such as bone mineral density (BMD) perform poorly. Most people who fracture are not detected by BMD because their BMD is either normal or high, and many people with low BMD never fracture. The main aim of this grant application is to develop new tools to allow doctors and scientists worldwide to better estimate FN strength. To develop new methods to replace BMD, scientists need to make use of the 3D aspects of the bone such as size, shape and internal architecture. Presently, these 3D aspects (structure) have not been adequately studied and scientists incorrectly approximate them. As a result new methods are not any better. A good quantification of structure is needed. Another reason for the failure to accurately estimate the strength of bones is that estimates are based on a single parameter whereas the bone, like any architectural structure (e.g. building), comprises many components acting together to maintain its strength. To determine the strength based on density alone is incorrect; the size, the shape and things inside the structure need to be considered as a whole. After quantifying correctly the structure and components of bone strength, we will determine how they can be used individually and together to better estimate the strength of the FN in men and women. Tools generated will be used to better determine people likely to fracture and needing treatment; to better tailor and monitor treatments. A better understanding of the causes and epidemiology of fractures will ensue.Read moreRead less
I am a clinician-scientist and endocrinologist most interested in clinical problems associated with bone, in particular the highly heritable disease of osteoporosis. I hope by studying genetic determinants of bone mass to determine the key genes involved, with the long term aim of informing the development of novel therapies for this common, painful and disabling disease.
Identification Of The Mechanisms Of Lipotoxicity Within The Bone Marrow Milieu
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,007.00
Summary
Obesity and osteoporosis two major epidemics of our time. Bone and fat communicate with each other in two different ways. A hormonal communication links bone and fat in a positive manner. In contrast, at the local level, increasing levels of marrow fat with aging affect bone quality through the local release of toxic factors. We will identify these factors and will assess the potential reversibility of lipotoxicity in bone, as a new therapeutic approach to osteoporosis in the elderly.
BONE SIZE AND BONE TURNOVER: RELATIONSHIP TO FRACTURE RISK OVER TEN YEARS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,225.00
Summary
The occurrence of fracture in the ageing population is a major public health problem because these fractures are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Of women reaching 90 years of age, one third will fracture their hip and overall, one in every six women will sustain an osteoporotic fracture in her lifetime. The direct cost to the community is unknown but estimated, conservatively, at 175 million dollars annually. Most of this is likely to be the result of hip fractures which oc ....The occurrence of fracture in the ageing population is a major public health problem because these fractures are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Of women reaching 90 years of age, one third will fracture their hip and overall, one in every six women will sustain an osteoporotic fracture in her lifetime. The direct cost to the community is unknown but estimated, conservatively, at 175 million dollars annually. Most of this is likely to be the result of hip fractures which occupy an estimated 400,000 bed-days annually. This bed occupancy is fourth next to mental illness, cardiac disease and cancer. The Geelong Osteoporosis Study is a large population-based epidemiological study currently under way to evaluate the major risk factors for fracture in women . This present study which will be an extension of the study to date, will provide in total, 8-10 years of data concerning the processes that result in increased bone fragility and fracture.Read moreRead less