Ask the Experts

Wellness Letter

Ask the Experts
June 2012

Q: My orthopedist prescribed a bone growth stimulator for my foot fracture. I wear it for half an hour a day. Does it really do something?
A: It may help, but it’s hard to know for sure. Such devices are typically prescribed when a fractured bone doesn’t heal properly. That occurs with about 5 to 10 percent of fractures. They’re also used sometimes for new fractures.
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Q: Is it necessary to have some fat in a meal for the body to absorb fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamin D?
A: Probably just a small amount of fat, though the research is not clear and many variables are involved. The key difference between fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and water-soluble ones (C and the Bs) is that the former are stored in the liver and fatty tissues and are eliminated much more slowly than the latter, which need to be consumed more regularly.
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Q: Do chondroitin sulfate supplements, often taken with glucosamine for arthritis, increase the risk of prostate cancer?
A: Elevated levels of chondroitin sulfate in the body have been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, but there’s no evidence that supplements are a problem. Chondroitin sulfate is produced naturally by the body, where it’s involved in cell structure and growth and other basic functions. It’s also an important structural component of cartilage.
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UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, June 2012