Q5 Musculoskeletal System Flashcards
(13 cards)
Musculoskeletal system overview
Largest system in the body
Made up of bones, cartilage, joints and muscle
As we age system begins to decline causing elderly to experience trips and falls
It is understood nutritional intervention could upkeep musculoskeletal system as we age
Osteoporosis
Major way our system declines
To reduce risk it has been shown that increasing bone mass density at its peak to 10% above average can delay osteoporosis by 13yrs
How to increase peak bone mass
Increase calcium intake
Calcium is stored in the body in our bones and so if we do not consume enough calcium body utilises bone stores to meet daily uses
RCTs on calcium
RCTs on calcium have targeted different age groups, varying drop out rates meaning that calcium systematic review find hard to compare trials
Calcium as we age
During early adulthood absorb calcium inversely proportional to calcium availability. However, in old age the same effect does not happen. This means elderly body not counteract if low intake of calcium so need to consume enough calcium increases in old age.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is required for the absorption of calcium
Different health bodies highlighted importance of vitamin D in different ways.
Some say prevents bones loss while other suggests acts positively to build bone mass
SACN report and Cochrane review completed in 2017 highlighted that there is no benefit to a vitamin D supplement and to be useful have to be consumed with calcium
Observational data has suggested it can reduce risk of osteoporosis but as it is observational causation can not be associated and it may be other lifestyle factors.
Post-menopause
Women post-menopause are greater risk at developing osteoporosis compared with men.
1 in 5 women have osteoporosis and 6x as many women have type 1 trabecular bone loss compared with men.
Reason is as women sex hormones change particularly a reduction in oestrogen.
UK guidelines
Suggest elderly should consume same amount of protein as adults.
SACN report that due to elderly having less muscle there is a reduced need for protein
Soy
Nutritonal research has tried to look at ways to reduce effects of menopause
One proposed substrate is Soy
Soy high in phytoestrogens which have a similar structure to oestrogen meaning it can mimic oestrogens role in bone health.
PROT-age study
Suggests that due to muscle wasting advisable that over 65s increase protein requirement to 1.2g/kg/day.
Increased protein requirements reduces falls, recovery time and hospital stay
Muscle
During old age many elderly adults experience muscle wasting leading to sarcopenia.
Disadvantages to soy
Benefits of soy depend on a women genotype
In some women increase risk of breast cancer
Implementation of soy should be considered on individual basis but may offer dietary intervention in some post menopausal women
Protein consumption habits
Many people do consume enough protein but this is mostly saturated in the evening meal.
Research by Watson has shown that it is beneficial to consume protein with every meal rather than just in the evening.
