The studies show that the higher the milk consumption the higher the cases of bone fractures and osteoporosis. What bothered me is that they say scientists are perplexed by this phenomenon. "The more calcium in your diet, the higher your risk of breaking bones. Since 1986 when this study was first published it has caused alot of head scratching". It amazes me that so many educated people would be perplexed by this. Its just basic physiology and common sense.

To explain let me quote from GUYTON'S MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY, 6TH ED, W.B. SAUNDERS AND CO, 1981 :
"Osteomalacia is rickets in adults and is frequently called "adult rickets".Rickets occurs as a result of calcium or phosphate deficiency. Osteoporosis, the most common bone disease in adults and especially old age, is a different disease from osteomalacia and rickets, as it results from diminished organic matrix rahter than abnormal bone calcification. The organic matrix of bone is 90-95% collagen fibers, and the remainder is called ground substance. The mainy causes of osteoporosis are : 1) lack of exercise 2) malnutrition 3) lack of vitamin C 4) Acromegaly.."

From this we can see that vitamin C is more important to preventing oseoporosis (and bone fractures) then calcium (since osteoporosis has nothing to do with the loss of calcium - that is osteomalacia). that is because vitamin C causes the production of hydroxyproline, which is the main ingredient in collagen. Collagen is a protein.

When I think of protein I think of a steak. Steak bends before it breaks. When I think of calcium I think of chalk, which is pure calcium carbonate. Chalk will break before it bends. It is brittle.

So bone is like a mixture of steak and chalk. If we take all the chalk out (all the calcium from a bone), all that would be left would be steak. That means the bones would not be brittle but bendable. This is the condition called osteomalacia. Kids with osteomalacia will have bowed legs and arms from their bones bending.

If we remove the steak (collagen) all that is left is the chalk. This would make bones more brittle. That is why osteoporosis is frequently called brittle bone disease. Too much calcium in relation to the protein will only make for brittle more easily broken bones.

It appears doctors watch more TUMS commercials than reading scientific medical information. C'mon doc, turn off the Gilligans Island reruns and read a journal.

All the so called experts recommend for osteoporosis for the most part is calcium and calcium enhancing medications (Mycalcin, fosamax etc). This will only serve to make bones MORE brittle. This is only speculation but I would think AS would be the drug of choice as it enhances protein synthesis.

Its frustrating to try to educate patients about osteoporosis as I have to fight against a flodd of misinformation. At least DISCOVER magazine posts the truth about milk and bone loss. And milk is a poor source of calcium. Green vegetables are a much better source. That is why adult cows eat grass and get enough calcium for their own needs as well as a little extra to put in milk. Why get your calcium second hand?

Yet people think of osteoporosis as a womens disease (and often heart disease as a mans disease - yet women are more likely to die if they have a heart attack).