[Medical Q&A] If you have osteoporosis, is it enough to just take calcium tablets?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Han Liqiang, deputy chief physician, Tianjin Third Central Hospital

With the improvement of medical level and the gradual extension of life expectancy, there are more and more elderly patients in outpatient clinics, and more and more osteoporosis patients follow. These elderly people often feel very strange: How come they still have osteoporosis when they have been taking calcium tablets? If they have osteoporosis, will taking calcium tablets help? In fact, although calcium is an important nutrient for maintaining bone health, calcium supplementation alone cannot completely prevent or treat osteoporosis.

There are two main types of cells in human bones, namely osteoblasts and osteoclasts. When we are young, osteoblasts are stronger than osteoclasts, so the bones will be stronger. However, as we age, osteoclasts are stronger than osteoblasts, and the bones will become more and more porous, which is the main cause of osteoporosis. Therefore, to treat osteoporosis, we should try to inhibit the action of osteoclasts, promote the action of osteoblasts, and actively supplement the basic materials of bone, that is, calcium and vitamin D. Regular osteoporosis treatment often requires triple medication, that is, calcium tablets + vitamin D + drugs that inhibit osteoclasts. If osteoporosis is particularly severe, drugs that promote the action of osteoblasts need to be added, which is quadruple medication. Of course, the specific treatment plan still needs to be formulated by the doctor according to the actual situation of the patient. Remember not to use drugs indiscriminately! In addition to drug treatment, it is also important to adjust lifestyle (such as moderate exercise, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, etc.), and undergo regular examinations (such as checking bone density, blood calcium and vitamin D levels).