Primary osteoporosis develops without any known risk factors, whereas secondary osteoporosis is the result of another medical condition. Corticosteroid prescription medications like prednisone were a close second cause, followed by alcoholism. Gold said that it isn't understood how smoking contributes to the onset of the disease, but that people who smoke tend to lose more calcium than nonsmokers. Peris mentions our lack of exercise as another problem that predisposes us to osteoporosis. Like women, men should ensure that they are getting enough calcium and vitamin D in their diets.
Vitamin D is required to help absorb calcium.
Men should also have a bone-density test done if they are on corticosteroids. This is a very simple, noninvasive test that measures the thickness of some of the major bones in the body. It only takes a few minutes to perform. For anyone with osteoporosis, new drugs are now available that have proven to be very effective. Dr. Gold said that a number of unpublished studies have shown that Ipriflavone is just as effective in men as it is in women.