UA HEALTH SCIENCE PROFESSOR SHARES INFORMATION ON BONE DENSITY WITH NORTHWEST ARKANSAS DIETETICS ASSOCIATION MEETING

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Health science professor Lori Turner will share new information on osteoporosis with members of the Northwest Arkansas Dietetics Association at their annual meeting at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale on September 17^th.

Turner, much of whose research has focused on bone density, osteoporosis and health issues for women in particular, will be discussing specifics of the disease with the association as well as introducing a new research project that will examine bone density levels in young and middle-aged women.

"Bone loss happens silently over a period of years, something we cannot physically detect," said Dr. Turner. "Whereas hypertension has been called the 'silent killer,’ osteoporosis is called the 'silent thief;’ it quietly robs the bone of much-needed material."

Osteoporosis causes 1.5 million fractures in the United States every year. Of those, 250,000 are hip fractures that result in the death of 20% of the people who experience them. More than 25 million people in the United States have osteoporosis, 80% of whom are women, and costs our nation an estimated $13 billion every year in health care and related costs. Factors that increase the risk of developing osteoporosis include being female, being physically inactive and often underweight, having a poor diet history lacking in calcium and vitamin D, and using alcohol and tobacco products. Caucasians are much more likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis than are all other racial groups.

Much of Turner’s presentation to the Dietetics Association will focus on upcoming research projects that utilize a new bone density machine that has recently been purchased by the University of Arkansas College of Education & Health Professions. The machine, called the LUNAR Prodigy, measures bone density with radio waves, and is the "gold standard" for osteoporosis testing.

Turner’s new initiative will examine the bone density levels of 100 female students at the University, collecting baseline data and information about their lifestyles and behaviors. The concept of determining bone density in the younger years is similar to the concept of obtaining a baseline mammogram, Turner says. Women can find out their bone density levels so they can understand how it might change over time. Because very few data are collected on young women, Turner feels this project is especially important and plans to follow this research with another study targeting the bone density of a group of middle-aged women.

"This study will fill a huge gap in literature about osteoporosis," Turner said. "Our work will have a significant effect on the depth and breadth of research available about women and the importance of good bone density. It’s good news for women everywhere."

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