Bone Health Isn’t Just a Women’s Issue

Fall Through the Cracks: Osteoporosis tends to get filed under women’s health, but aging men lose bone density, too. And because bone loss is usually silent, a fracture can be the first clue that something has been going on for years. But men shouldn’t wait for a fracture to think about their bone health.

The Study: A new review in Maturitas examined the evidence on bone health in older men, including risk factors, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The authors note that men accounted for about 39% of the estimated nine million osteoporotic fractures worldwide in 2000. They also found that secondary causes, including hormonal disorders, medications, and chronic diseases, may contribute to up to 60% of osteoporosis cases in men. What’s more, they discovered that fewer than 20% of men receive medical treatment after a fragility fracture.

Takeaway: Bone health deserves a place in men’s preventive care. Current guidelines generally recommend bone-density testing around age 70, with earlier assessment for men with risk factors such as a previous fragility fracture, low body weight, smoking, or long-term steroid use.

Keep in Mind: As you get older, you can still support your bone health by doing weight-bearing exercise regularly, not smoking, prioritizing protein, and consuming enough calcium and vitamin D.