Diabetics tend to have lower bone mineral density (BMD) compared with non-diabetics, says Dr. Celeste C. Tanchoco, Scientist III of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST).
An FNRI study was done to assess the bone strength of women 30-50 years old and compared the BMD of the participants with and without diabetes.
A case control design was done to compare the BMD using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.
Dr. Tanchoco observed that the participants with type-1 diabetes, or those who are insulin dependent, have lower BMD at the femoral neck, the thigh bone attached to the hip bone, while the participants with type-2 diabetes, or the non-insulin dependent, have lower BMD at the lumbar spine as compared with the non-diabetic participants.
“Diabetes and osteoporosis are disease conditions associated with unhealthy lifestyle described as poor food choices leading to obesity and lack of physical activity or sedentary life,” Dr. Tanchoco added.
A lower BMD may result to brittle bones that fracture easily. These conditions may be prevented essentially though healthy lifestyle.
Message 7 of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) recommends consuming milk, milk products and other calcium-rich foods such as small fish and dark green leafy vegetables everyday.
The NGF says: “Milk and milk products are the most important dietary sources of calcium for they contain highly-absorbable calcium and are good sources of high quality protein, vitamin A, riboflavin or vitamin B2, cobalamin or vitamin B12 and even phosphorous.
Aside from milk and milk products, the other good sources of calcium based on the Food Composition Tables (FCT) published by the FNRI-DOST are anchovies (dilis, dulong), sardines (tawilis, sinilyasi, tamban), shrimp (alamang, taguntong), crabs (talangka), snail (kuhol, susong pilipit), seaweeds (balbalulang, gamet, kulot), root crop (kamoteng puti), dried green mung beans, oats, and green leafy vegetables (dahon ng ampalaya, lubi-lubi, malunggay, saluyot, himbabao).
The FNRI-DOST likewise published a handbook for diabetes which contains valuable information on preventing and managing diabetes. It is a helpful tool to plan meals and activities for a healthy lifestyle.
For more information on food and nutrition, contact Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City. E-mail: mcv@fnri.dost.gov.ph or mar_v_c@yahoo.com Telefax: 837-2934 and 827-3164, or call: 8372071 local 2296 or visit our website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. Czarina Teresita S. Martinez, FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service
