[Actual practice of nutritional education for patients with osteoporosis]

Patients with osteoporosis in Japan have two problems in nutrition. One is insufficient calcium and vitamin D intake, and the other is improper nutritional balance which will result in "life-style related diseases" . Correction of these two problems should be the target of nutritional education for patients with osteoporosis. The details of the education currently done by the dietitian at our clinic is described. What should be advised differs greatly depending on patient's age, comprehension level, severity of calcium intake insufficiency, other diseases patients have, and who is responsible for making the meals. The "Self-assessment Table for Calcium Intake" which we developed and the "Food Balance Guide" recently published by the Japanese government are also introduced, so that nutritional education can be done at clinics devoid of a dietitian.