Every October 20 and since 1996, Osteoporosis Day has been celebrated worldwide.
This is a joint effort between 265 medical societies and members around the world who call for participation in the annual campaign to raise awareness about osteoporosis and fracture prevention.

This is of fundamental importance because according to a European study by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, it has been revealed that approximately 71% of European postmenopausal women are considered at high risk of fracture and do not receive treatment.

https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/news/world-osteoporosis-day-october-20th-iof-will-call-action-bone-health-20211005-0900

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that is characterized by low bone density and an increased risk of fractures.
It affects 3 million people in Spain, most of them women.
In addition, the probability of suffering a fragility fracture is close to 10% in women with a previous fracture at the age of 65 and increases considerably with age from the age of 70.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2074-y

There are many factors that can increase the risk of suffering from it, such as age, menopause, low calcium intake or a sedentary lifestyle.
It is important to strengthen the skeleton with supplements such as collagen or collagen stimulators, as they help maintain bone density and improve osteoarticular health.

Osteoporosis does not follow pre-established clinical patterns

Osteoporosis does not follow pre-established clinical patterns and manifests itself in various ways throughout its course.
People with uncomplicated osteoporosis may remain asymptomatic until a fracture occurs.
It has been seen that, although osteoporosis presents a general symptomatology, it also manifests itself with specific signs and symptoms such as:

1. Pain secondary to osteoporotic fractures, which can occur in any bone and whose clinical manifestations depend on the location.
2. Deformities and multiple vertebral compression fractures that can result in increased thoracic kyphosis and cervical lordosis.
   The last ribs could contact the iliac crest, causing relaxation of the diaphragm, which is the cause of digestive (hiatal hernia, meteorism) and respiratory (dyspnea) manifestations.
3. In addition, there are alterations of the adipose panniculus and the presence of skin folds on the back, pubic region and navel.
4. Hyperkyphosis also causes neck pain when the patient tries to hold the head up through cervical hyperextension.
   In addition to this, increased dorsal kyphosis also occurs in men with osteoporosis, resulting in shoulder drop, compensatory cervical and lumbar hyperlordosis, which is a characteristic postural habit.
5. A loss of height, as vertebral fractures and hyperkyphosis can cause a decrease in height of approximately 10-20 cm.

Many factors are involved in the development of osteoporosis.
Some of them are modifiable, such as environmental factors and some endocrine factors.

Environmental factors

• • Nutritional factors, such as deficient calcium intake, vitamin D deficiency (due to deficit, malabsorption or low sun exposure), excessive protein intake in unbalanced diets, excessive phosphate intake or excessive salt intake that increases urinary calcium loss.

• • Sedentary lifestyles, and in case of excessive sport, excessive mechanical load, which are factors that directly increase the risk of osteoporosis.

• • Chronic pharmacological treatment with anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids, sedatives or chemotherapy.
• • Excessive intake of caffeine, alcohol or tobacco.
• • Increasedbody weight, which is responsible for 15% to 30% of variations in bone mineral density at any age and in any measured bone region.

Endocrine factors

• • Alterations of the menstrual cycle or late menarche, which are conditions that are associated with low bone mass.

• • Surgical or nonsurgical menopause before age 45.

• • Being a hormonally infertile woman.

• • Estrogen deficiency before menopause as a result of anovulation due to anorexia nervosa, excessive exercise, mental stress, etc.
  This is the most important risk factor for osteoporosis, at least in Western countries.
  DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1603581

Non-modifiable factors

Among the non-modifiable factors are

• • Genetics, since there are important genetic components in determining bone density and mass, for example, race. Caucasians and Asians are at higher risk than Black and Polynesian people
• • Sex, as the risk has been found to be higher in women than in men
• • Age, since each decade increases the risk by 1.4 to 1.8 times.
  In relation to the latter, it is a clear cause of loss of bone density, not only due to the decrease in hormone levels but also because, histologically, there is a decrease in the average thickness of the bone wall, but bone resorption remains high with aging.
  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.308398

What role does collagen play?

In bone, there is a hierarchical structure with two separate phases: the organic matrix and the inorganic matrix. The organic matrix is mainly composed of type I collagen, whose fibers are linked by triple helix cross-links.
It is this structure that provides the bone with resistance to longitudinal tensile forces, as well as elasticity.
On the other hand, the inorganic matrix is mineralized with crystals of hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate, which are located in the free spaces of the organic matrix.
This matrix is responsible for the stiffness of the bone and its resistance to compressive forces in a way that depends directly on the amount of mineral, the arrangement of the crystals and the degree of packing.

Over the years, bones become more fragile and lose their functionality. Factors such as immobilization, hormonal or nutritional deficiencies, or chronic diseases can metabolically affect bone remodeling and lead to osteopenia, which is the stage prior to osteoporosis.
Therefore, the regulation of cellular and molecular processes to maintain the balance between bone resorption and bone formation is essential.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/term.1942

New treatments

The main objective of a classic pharmacological treatment is to reduce the risk of fractures.
That is why, before starting pharmacological treatment, it should be ensured that the person has adequate levels of both calcium and vitamin D, since the combination of these two elements has shown a great synergy to promote the absorption of calcium and help maintain adequate serum levels.

The drugs traditionally used to treat osteoporosis can be divided according to the effect they produce on the bone.
On the one hand, there are antiresorptive drugs classified as “bone resorption inhibitors” and, on the other hand, anabolic agents classified as “bone formation accelerators”.

The function of antiresorptive drugs is to decrease or prevent bone resorption by trying to balance bone formation and bone resorption by suppressing osteoclast function.

Medications, however, usually have side effects

On the other hand, anabolic agents increase bone turnover, which mainly affects bone formation.
However, it has been suggested that long-term use of parathyroid hormone analogues increases the risk of osteosclerosis and osteosarcoma due to their stimulant effects, and they are not used for the long-term treatment of osteoporosis.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beem.2014.09.003

The novelty is that we now have collagen stimulators, which are substances that increase collagen synthesis in the body and have been shown to be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis, as they improve bone mineral density and bone quality.

According to one study, a daily intake of 5 g of specific collagen peptides showed a progressive increase in bone mineral density, indicating an increase in anabolic bone metabolism – without adverse effects – in postmenopausal women after a total of 4 years.
DOI: 10.11005/jbm.2021.28.3.207

Another study demonstrated the osteogenic activity of collagen peptides through the mediated increase of osteoblast cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity in a dose-dependent manner and collagen synthesis through the expression of the collagen type 1-alpha1 (COL1A1) gene and its therapeutic efficacy in osteoporotic bone.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules181215474

Our recommendation

Based on our studies and research, it is always our duty to offer products that meet all expectations, both our own and those of our users.
That is why we will make a brief description of two of our products that could substantially improve the topic we are talking about.

Certainly, collagen is a basic and essential component for bone nutrition, however, there are other factors that are closely linked that are just as important.
We are referring to calcium, magnesium, and vitamins as necessary as Vitamin D and K for their strengthening.
As a reminder, bone is made up of several tissues, the main one being bone tissue.
Among its main components we find the different minerals such as calcium and magnesium that form the inorganic matrix of the bone, providing hardness.
Within the organic matrix of bone, 94% is composed of collagen.
Minerals adhere to this collagen structure.
Without this support structure, the bone lacks solidity.

OSTEOMATRIX.
Its extensive and complete list of components makes it one of our favorites when it comes to recommending it.
It meets all the requirements to prevent and treat bone loss.
Ingredients include:

• • Hydrolyzed fish collagen (type I) (Peptan® F 2000 LD)
• • Calcium (hydroxyapatite)
• • Magnesium
• • Vitamin C
• • Methylsulfonylmethane (OptiMSM®)
• • Arginine
• • Pomegranate extract
• • Silicon
• • Citrus Bioflavonoids
• • Vitamin K2 (MenaQ7®)
• • Vitamin D3

ACTIVE Procollagen Plus.
In this case we find a food supplement composed of:

• • Hydrolyzed fish collagen (type I) (Peptan® F 2000 LD)
• • Calcium
• • Vitamin C
• • Magnesium
• • Glucosamine
• • MSM
• • Arginine
• • Lysine
• • Hyaluronic acid
• • Pomegranate extract
• • Silicon
• • Orange Tree Extract
• • Zinc
• • Manganese
• • Copper
• • Vitamin k
• • Selenium
• • Vitamin d

Thanks to its formula, it contributes to the normal formation of collagen and connective tissue, to the normal functioning of bones and cartilage, and to the maintenance of bones under normal conditions.
In addition, the addition of vitamin C stimulates collagen synthesis.

Conclusion

Different clinical studies have proven the beneficial effects of the intake of hydrolyzed collagen on osteoarticular health and dermal aging.
In these studies, it was found that hydrolyzed collagen stimulates the regeneration of collagenous tissues, enhancing the synthesis of tissue collagen and also of the other minority components of these tissues (proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid).
In addition, its continued intake helps reduce joint pain due to wear and tear, slow down bone loss and attenuate the signs of dermal aging.

From our blog, we intend to bring help to prevent this type of process and bring more health and well-being to our customers.
We all know or know of people who suffer from pathological fractures due to age or a poor diet and/or lack of basic nutrients.
Collagen, as we have seen, is an essential component, but without the minerals calcium and magnesium and vitamins D and K, the bone would lack the strength to maintain its strength.
Therefore, food supplements as complete as OSTEOMATRIX and ACTIVE Procollagen Plus are of great help in maintaining bones in normal conditions.