Good Nutrition Essential for Bone Health

    HONG KONG, Oct. 20 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Good nutrition is essential to building and
maintaining strong bones, according to a new report issued today by International Osteoporosis
Foundation (IOF) on the occasion of World Osteoporosis Day (WOD), October 20.

    The new report "Bone Appetit: the role of food and nutrition in building and maintaining
strong bones" (please view: http://www.osteofound.org/publications/bone_appetit.html ) shares
its title with the theme of WOD 2006, celebrated today with international activities (please view:
http://www.osteofound.org/activities/world_osteoporosis_day/2006_activities.php ) by IOF's member
societies in 86 countries.

    IOF Chief Executive Officer Daniel Navid, speaking at a press conference in Hong Kong, noted:
"Everyone can help to reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis by following a bone-healthy
lifestyle, which includes eating a nutritious diet, taking regular exercise and avoiding smoking and
excess alcohol.

    "By rejecting the misconception that `skinny is beautiful' and not following harmful and
excessive weight loss diets, people can build strong bones and help to reduce the risk of breaking
bones due to osteoporosis later in life."

    Professor Annie Kung, president of the Osteoporosis Society of Hong Kong, speaking at the
conference, predicted an osteoporosis epidemic in Asia, noting: "It is projected that by 2050
about 50% of all osteoporotic hip fractures will occur in Asia. Partly this is due to increasing
life expectancy, but is also related to lifestyle factors, including less-healthy eating
habits."

    "The importance of a nutritious diet with sufficient calcium and vitamin D to build and
maintain bone strength has been shown in numerous clinical studies," said Dr Edith Lau,
president of the Hong Kong Osteoporosis Foundation and an IOF Board member. "Like any organ in
the body, the skeleton needs a constant supply of nutrients to function properly and replenish
itself throughout our lives."

    Also released by IOF today were twelve 30-second Public Service Announcements (please view:
http://www.osteofound.org/press_centre/psa_wod2006/index.html ) in which internationally-known
entertainers, athletes, chefs and osteoporosis advocates urge people to adopt bone-friendly eating
habits. These celebrities include:

    -- Jet Li, Actor (China)
    -- Karen Mok, Actress and singer (Hong Kong)
    -- Retno Maruti, Master of classical Javanese dance (Indonesia)
    -- Martin Yan, Master and celebrity TV chef (USA)
    -- Gregory Coupet, Football star (France)
    -- Silvia Valdemoros, Master and celebrity TV chef (Argentina)
    -- Sportacus, Host of international hit children's TV series
       `LazyTown' (Iceland)
    -- Britt Ekland, Actress (Sweden)
    -- Martial Enguehard, Master chef (France)
    -- Anton Mosimann, Master chef (Switzerland)
    -- Ana Shepherd of Hangtime Circus, Aerialist (Canada)
    -- Philippe Chevrier, Master chef (Switzerland)

    World Osteoporosis Day, which begins the "Year of Bone Nutrition" also saw the launch
of a completely new IOF website - http://www.iofbonehealth.org - which went live for the first time
during the Hong Kong press conference.

    The new website features nutritional information for the public and health professionals, a
global recipe database, and a calcium intake calculator. Nutrition facts released today show:

    Calcium and vitamin D

    - Studies in children and adolescents have shown that adding extra dietary 
      or supplemental calcium enhances the rate of bone mineral gain during 
      growth.

    - Vitamin D is essential for assisting calcium absorption and ensuring 
      bone tissue renewal yet a growing body of evidence suggests that, on a 
      global level, vitamin D deficiency is widespread.

    - Calcium and vitamin D supplementation reduces rates of bone loss and 
      also reduces fracture rates in older people.

    Protein

    - Adequate dietary protein is essential for bone health. Studies have 
      shown that elderly men and women with higher dietary protein intakes had 
      lower rates of hip and spine bone loss than those consuming lower 
      amounts of protein.

    - In elderly patients who have suffered hip fractures, ensuring sufficient 
      protein intake helps to speed recovery, shorten hospital stays, and 
      increase the likelihood of returning to independent living.

    Lifestyle factors

    - Bone mass accumulation is greatest during puberty, thereby putting 
      adolescents who follow unnecessary and excessive diets, and particularly 
      those with anorexia nervosa, at greater risk for reduced peak bone mass 
      and for fractures later in life.

    WOD 2006 is supported by an unrestricted educational grant provided by four Global Gold
Sponsors: Fonterra Brands, MSD, Novartis and Tetra Pak. In addition, the InterContinental Hong Kong,
which is hosting the 20 October launch, will offer a special "bone-friendly" menu at its
acclaimed Cantonese restaurant `Yan Toh Heen'.

    For more information on osteoporosis and IOF please visit: http://www.iofbonehealth.org 

    For more information, please contact:

     Paul Spencer Sochaczewski, or Elena Grimaud-Ineichen
     International Osteoporosis Foundation - IOF
     Tel:   +41-22-994-0100
     Fax:   +41-22-994-0101
     Email: iofnews@osteofound.org

SOURCE  International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF)