About osteoporosis

By osteoporosis the mineral content of the bones, or bone mineral density, is reduced and thereby the strength and radiologic density is also reduced.

WHO operational definition of osteoporosis is a bone mass 2.5 standard deviations or more below the average for healthy, young, adult women (T-score = ÷ 2.5).

Osteoporosis gives higher risk for fractures and is defined as a systemic skeletal disease.

Patients with osteoporosis will function normally until they break a bone (established osteoporosis). Because of the high risk of breaking bones, patients with osteoporosis will often be plagued by sveral slowly healing fractures at the same time.

It is primarily women who are affected by osteoporosis. Normally a woman's skeleton is at its strongest around 25-35 years of age. Bone density remains roughly constant as the balance between breakdown (resorption) and formation (ossification / osteogenese) for about 10 subsequent years. Then follows a period of bone loss of about 0,3-0,5% per yearly. After menopause bone loss accelerates due to loss of estrogen production - it may reach up to 3 to 5% per year over a period of from 5 to 7 years. Norwegian Osteoporosis Society defines osteoporosis as loss of bone mass greater than 25%.

Pre-osteoporosis is "low bone mass," and called Osteopenia. Osteopenia is defined as bone mass in the range between 1 and 2.5 standard deviations below the mean ((÷ 1> T-score> ÷ 2.5)


Factors that contribute to reducing bone dencity

- Use of certain medications, particularly corticosteroids
- Inactivity
- Weight Loss
- Lack of vitamine D
- Lack of calcium
-Lack of estrogen (or testosterone in men) after menopause or in disease states / surgery.


Astronauts lose calcium from bones quickly because there is little pressure along the long bones. During long space missions, it has been practiced to put the legs under pressure to artificially create pressure on the bones. It is not known that such treatment is tried as a treatment for osteoporosis.


Prevention of osteoporosis

The development of osteoporosis or preventeion of it can be don eby a combination of elements:

- Training that exerts weight on the bones
- Smoking cessation
- Adequate energy intake to avoid weight loss
- Enough Calcium intake - (dairy products or supplements)
- Vitamin D intake by food rich in viatmine D (fat fish, fish oil and seafood) and by supplements.
- Exposure to sun that makes the skin produce vitamine D.


Management of osteoporosis

In the treatment of osteoporosis is the primary recommendation from the health authorities the use of food supplements of calcium and vitamin D, as well as drug therapy with bisphosphonates.

Secondarily are  recommended SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators), or estrogen supplements (for women).  In addition, now a PTH-based drug that stimulates the development of bone is available in the market.

Estrogen may be appropriate, particularly when co-treatment of menopause problems also are indicated.

Fosamax is a medicine that reduces osteoporosis. This is one of the few medications that are available in through prescription in many communities.

Exercise with walking or other use of the arms and legs provides a significant improvement in bone. Increased muscle mass seems protective of bone.

Up to top

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is nutritional in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.