Black women at greater osteoporosis risk

NEW YORK, Aug 05, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Between 80 percent and 95 percent of bone fractures in U.S. black women over the age of 64 are due to osteoporosis.

African-Americans may be at particular risk for vitamin D deficiency because of their high melanin concentrations.

"Vitamin D is important particularly in the African-American population, because vitamin D helps to absorb calcium that we put in our bones," aid Dr. Michael Thomas, a women's health expert. "Calcium is used to help maintain good bone health, but without the vitamin D you aren't going to be able to absorb the calcium well."

Seventy-five percent of black women are vitamin D deficient and 75 percent are lactose intolerant, said Thomas. Most African-American women aren't getting enough calcium in their diets, often because of lactose intolerance.

Vitamin D may also be obtained from dietary sources such as fatty fish, fish oils, fortified foods and vitamin supplements, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.