Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

502 ALICE CALLAHAN, PHD, HEATHER LEONARD, MED, RDN, AND TAMBERLY POWELL, MS, RDN
• Alcohol intake- Alcohol intake may also affect bone health, although this seems to
depend on the amount consumed. Light to moderate alcohol intake (two drinks or
less per day) has been shown in some studies to be associated with an increase in
bone density and a decreased risk of developing osteoporosis. However, excessive
alcohol intake is associated with decreased bone density and increased fracture
risk, although this may be due in part to other lifestyle factors, such as poor diet
and less physical activity. 6
• Being underweight- Being underweight significantly increases the risk of
developing osteoporosis, because people who are underweight often have a
smaller frame size and a lower peak bone mass. The most striking relationship
between being underweight and bone health is seen in people with anorexia
nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is strongly correlated with low peak bone mass, and
more than 50 percent of men and women who have this illness develop
osteoporosis, often very early in life.
The changeable risk factors for osteoporosis provide ways for people to improve their
bone health, even though some people may be genetically predisposed to the disease.
Prevention of osteoporosis begins early in life since this is a critical time of bone growth.
Eating a balanced diet that provides adequate amounts of calcium, vitamin D, and protein is
important for bone health throughout the life cycle. Participating in exercise such as walking,
hiking, and weight lifting, and refraining from risky behaviors like smoking and excessive
drinking are all behaviors that will help protect bones.
Self-Check:
An interactive H5P element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here:
https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/nutritionscience/?p=1456#h5p-47
Attributions:
• Zimmerman, M., & Snow, B. Bone Structure and Function. In An Introduction to
Nutrition (v. 1.0). https://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/an-introduction-tonutrition/index.html,
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
• “Bone Tissue and the Skeletal System,” unit 6 from J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young,
James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E.