Selected anti-health behaviours among women with osteoporosis

Background: In the prevention of osteoporosis and its treatment, it is important to prevent bone loss by reducing the occurrence of factors determining human health, which reduce the risk of osteoporosis, such as health behaviors.

Objective: Characteristics of modifiable risk factors predisposing to osteoporosis, such as: low intake of calcium and vitamin D3 in the diet, smoking, coffee and alcohol abuse.

Material and methods: The study involved 400 women aged 50-74 who are suffering from osteoporosis T-score <-2.5 SD and those who are healthy T-score> -1 SD, living in the Malopolska voivodeship. A questionnaire was used to conduct the study.

Results: More than half of the respondents with osteoporosis (51%) were drinking coffee several times a day. In the healthy group, the majority of respondents (77.5%) were drinking coffee once a day. None of the healthy subjects drank more than two units of alcohol per day, and in the group of patients 2% of respondents declared consumption of more than two units of alcohol every day. Women with osteoporosis were more likely to smoke cigarettes and declared more frequent intake of calcium-containing products than healthy women. In the group of 200 examined women suffering from osteoporosis, 26.5% daily consumed milk, and 21.5% included this product three times a week in their diet. Healthy women did not drink milk every day. One-third (30.5%) of women with osteoporosis provided the daily recommended dose of calcium by consuming a slice of cheese. None of the healthy women examined included yellow cheese in daily meals, but only once (22%) or three times (26.5%) a week.

Conclusions: It is important to introduce a health education in order to increase knowledge about the risk factors of osteoporosis , including the principles of proper nutrition with an emphasis on calcium and vitamin D3 intake.