[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              THE OSTEOPOROSIS RISK REDUCTION ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 1994

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
will help America's women to protect themselves from the disabling 
effects of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis affects 25 million Americans, 80 
percent of whom are women. Each year, osteoporosis causes almost 1.5 
million hip, spine, and other fractures and costs our health care 
system up to $10 billion. While a number of risk factors have been 
linked to the disease, scientists agree that by consuming adequate 
amounts of calcium and achieving maximum bone mass, individuals can 
reduce their risk of getting osteoporosis.
  The Osteoporosis Risk Reduction Act of 1994 would direct the U.S. 
Food and Drug Administration to review the relationship between calcium 
consumption and osteoporosis, establish optimal levels for calcium 
consumption, and, based on this information, develop appropriate 
guidelines for the fortification of bread, cereal, and other grain 
products with calcium to help Americans reach these optimal levels.
  In recent weeks, we in Congress have talked a great deal about the 
importance of preventing illness, to make America a healthier nation, 
and to ease the burden that spiraling health care costs have placed on 
consumers and businesses. My bill is a very real, direct step in this 
direction. It will help America's women and girls reduce their risk of 
getting osteoporosis by increasing the number of calcium sources in 
their diets, boosting their calcium intake, and helping them to achieve 
maximum bone density.
  Today, many Americans, particularly girls and women, fail to consume 
adequate amounts of calcium at key points in their lives. In fact, 
according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, women get only about 
80 percent of their calcium recommended daily allowance [RDA] on 
average, and teenage girls get as little as two-thirds of their calcium 
RDA. In addition, many people believe that the RDA's may not be high 
enough to protect women and girls from osteoporosis.
  The Osteoporosis Risk Reduction Act would require FDA to, first, 
review the scientific data describing the relationship between calcium 
intake and osteoporosis; second, determine how many Americans are 
consuming too little calcium and measure how much their consumption of 
calcium should increase to reduce more effectively their risk of 
osteoporosis; and third, develop guidelines, based upon these findings, 
for the fortification of bread, cereal, and other grain products with 
calcium.
  In the 1940's, the Federal Government moved to require the 
fortification of bread with niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin to protect 
people against the B-vitamin deficiency diseases beriberi and pellagra. 
Since that time, these diseases have been virtually eradicated from our 
society. The Osteoporosis Risk Reduction Act, which has the support of 
the Older Women's League, the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the 
American Dietetic Association, would pave the way for FDA to take 
similar steps to help America's women and girls protect themselves 
against osteoporosis.

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