A long-term nutrition and health survey of 1,121 randomly chosen local residents over 19 years old found that 41.2 percent of females in the country have been diagnosed with the condition commonly known as brittle bone disease, compared to 20 percent among males, a DOH official said.

"The incidence among local women is also higher than among females in Hong Kong and Japan, " said Hsu Ching-hsin, a DOH specialist.

He advised local women not to drink more than two or three cups of coffee per day.

Moreover, Hsu suggested Taiwan women get regular exposure to sunlight. "Hiking and mountain-climbing are pleasant ways to get sufficient exposure to sunlight," he said.

Calcium intake is also important to prevent brittle bone disease, Hsu said, adding that women should take 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams per day.

An in-depth analysis of the respondents' health condition by assistant professor Lin Yi-chin of Chung Shan Medical University showed that 12.6 percent of females have osteoporosis of the lumbar spine and 25 percent have the disease in the bones of their forearms.

Lin said most of the female respondents lacked sufficient exposure to sunlight, averaging 11.5 times per week. Meanwhile, 39.5 percent said they are usually exposed to sunlight for less than 20 minutes each time; 41 percent said the exposure lasts for between 20 minutes and one hour; and 19.4 percent said they are in sunlight for more than an hour each time.

Huang Chao-shan, secretary-general of the Taiwan Osteoporosis Society, said drinking and long-term use of antacids and anti-depressants can lead to loss of bone density.

He advised that women over 50 and men over 65 should have bone density tests so that they can obtain treatment early, if necessary.

(By Chen Li-ting and Sofia Wu)