Tetra Pak Arabia conducts new research into public perceptions of osteoporosis within the GCC

The survey was conducted to support the work of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) in the Gulf to help them understand current public perception of the disease in the region and allow them to address this lack of awareness.

The Tetra Pak Arabia survey found that although over 76% of the respondents residing in the GCC said that they were aware of the disease, levels were lowest in the UAE where two out of 10 UAE residents said that they weren't aware of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis, which literally means "porous bone," is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As the bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. The loss of bone occurs "silently" and progressively. Often there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs.

According to a recently published Middle East and North Africa consensus undertaken by Maktoob Research for Tetra Pak Arabia, on osteoporosis, the burden of this disease is expected to increase in the region owing to the steady growth of the ageing population.

The survey also highlighted the following:

- Six out of 10 GCC residents think that regular milk consumption will aid in the prevention of the disease - this number is significantly more amongst Saudi residents
- Nine out of 10 GCC residents acknowledge that the calcium found in milk is vital in the prevention of osteoporosis
- At 87%, awareness levels were highest amongst men and women aged over 45 years
- Across the region more women were aware of osteoporosis than men. A significantly high number of people from the Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait share the same view, but a large part of UAE residents say that women are more likely to be affected by it

"Surveys like this are crucial in helping us understand the current perception of osteoporosis. It is clear from this research that although there is a fair understanding of the threat that osteoporosis poses to individuals, we need to take more proactive steps to try to prevent more cases from occurring across the region", said Dr. Basel Masri, IOF Representative for the Middle East & Africa.

Several studies have shown that the prevalence of Vitamin D inadequacy is higher in the Middle East than Western countries, so precautionary steps like well controlled sun exposure (main and free source of Vitamin D in our region) in combination with regular consumption of milk and dairy products that contains essential bone strengthening nutrients like calcium are a must from a young age", he added.

As the global population continues to grow and people live longer, cases of osteoporosis increase alongside the ageing of populations worldwide. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation reduces rates of bone loss and fracture rates in older male and female adults.

- Studies of children and adolescents have shown that diet supplementation with dairy calcium-enriched foods such as milk enhances the rate of bone mineral acquisition
- A recent study carried out in Australia concluded that a group of normally active boys with adequate calcium intakes, additional exercise and calcium supplementation resulted in a 2 - 3% greater increase in Bone Mineral Content
- A 10% increase of peak bone mass in children reduces the risk of an osteoporotic fracture during adult life by 50%

Tetra Pak is supporting the work of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) in many countries across the world to help fight osteoporosis and raise awareness about the health benefits of drinking milk. IOF identifies milk and other dairy food as being among the richest and most readily available dietary sources of calcium, an essential nutrient in building bones.