‘One quarter of Jordanian women over 50 at risk of osteoporosis’

Approximately one quarter of post-menopausal Jordanian women are at risk of developing osteoporosis, a medical expert said on Tuesday. Basel Masri, former president of the Jordanian Osteoporosis Prevention Society, said studies conducted by the society found that 23.4 per cent of women aged 50 and over face a significant chance of developing the disease, which weakens bones and makes them more prone to fractures. He also noted that 50 per cent of women between 20 and 80 years old have vitamin D deficiency, while a full 87 per cent of them suffer from vitamin D insufficiency. Masri told The Jordan Times on the sidelines of a lecture on osteoporosis, organised by Amgen Pharmaceuticals, that the society had recently finished a study about the rate of hip fractures among Jordanian men and women. Although he declined to reveal the results of the study before they are published, he noted that the incidence of hip fractures in Jordan is lower than the international average. Worldwide, hip fractures occur in between 20 and 25 per cent of people. Referring to another study conducted by the society, Masri noted that Jordanians living in mountainous areas such as Ajloun and Wadi Musa have lower rates of osteoporosis and hip fractures because they tend to live more active lifestyles, while the highest rates are among residents of Abdoun and the Baqaa refugee camp. Again, however, he declined to provide specific figures before the studies are finalised and published. According to Masri, osteoporosis is most common in women of an older age, while risk factors include having a family history of the condition, smoking, leading an inactive lifestyle and having a vitamin D deficiency. According to web sources, osteoporosis occurs when the body does not produce new bone tissue rapidly enough to replace its natural depletion over time. In addition to vitamin D, the minerals calcium and phosphate are important for bone growth, and deficiencies in these nutrients can lead to increased risk of osteoporosis.