Java, Sumatra tops for osteoporosis

Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Residents of Sumatra and Java are the most at risk of developing osteoporosis, according to a survey carried out by the Ministry of Health's Research and Development Center.

The survey found that South Sumatra topped the list with 27.7 percent of the population at risk of developing the condition, followed by Central Java (24.01 percent), Yogyakarta (23.5 percent), North Sumatra (22.82 percent), East Java (21.42 percent) and East Kalimantan (10.5 percent).

Indonesian Osteoporosis Association chairman Ichramsjah A. Rachman said on Monday that although the survey was not clinically conducted -- simply looking at people's diet, their daily calcium intake, exposure to sun and amount of daily activities -- it did show that osteoporosis in the country had reached alarming levels.

"Inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake, and minimum exposure to sun, are the main causes of osteoporosis," Ichramsjah said.

A person aged 35 and above needs 1,200 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day and about 400 to 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day.

Calcium is found in dairy products such as milk, eggs and cheese, as well as vegetables and fruits. Sources of vitamin D include fortified foods and fatty fish. People who cannot eat or drink dairy are recommended to take a daily multivitamin that provides at least 400 IU of vitamin D.

Another survey of 101,161 people in 2002 found that 29 percent of them had osteoporosis.

"They (the surveys) provide enough evidence that osteoporosis has become a more serious disease in this country," said Ichramsjah.

In welcoming World Osteoporosis Day, which falls on Oct. 20, the government kicked off on Monday National Osteoporosis Month, which will run until Oct. 21.

During the month, the government plans to hold the "Strong Bone, Healthy Life" campaign to encourage people to live a healthier life by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, drinking milk and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol.

Osteoporosis -- often called the "silent disease" because it occurs without symptoms -- is characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures, especially of the hip, spine and wrist.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, although men can develop osteoporosis, women above the age of 35 are at a greater risk -- about four times -- of developing the disease than men.

The reason for this is that when women reach about the age of 35, their estrogen levels start to decline, causing them to suffer from estrogen deficiency. Estrogen is a type of hormone that plays an important role in women's bone structure.

"Thus, I encourage every woman aged 35 above to check on their bone mass so as to prevent them from developing osteoporosis," said Ichramsjah.

When a person's bone mass reaches the level of more than 2.5 standard deviation (SD), that person is classified as having osteoporosis. A normal bone mass is at the level of less than 1 SD.

Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, there are medications for postmenopausal women to prevent and/or treat osteoporosis, such as bisphosphonate, calcitonin, hormone replacement therapy and selective estrogen receptor modulators.