Osteoporosis is characterized by the loss of bone mass (thinning of bones) that leads to an increase in bone fragility and heightened risk of fractures, especially at the hip, spine and wrist

OVERVIEW

Osteoporosis is a common disease characterized by the loss of bone mass (thinning of bones) that leads to an increase in bone fragility and heightened risk of fractures, especially at the hip, spine and wrist. The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that in the US, approximately 10 million individuals already have osteoporosis and an additional 34 million have low bone mass (also known as osteopenia), placing them at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.  The International Osteoporosis foundation reports that osteoporosis affects an estimated 75 million people in the US, Europe and Japan.

While women are at greater risk of osteoporosis, men also can develop the condition. Risk factors include family history, age, postmenopausal status, low dietary calcium intake, sedentary lifestyle and use of certain medications such as steroids. As life spans increase globally, the number of individuals at risk of osteoporosis will continue to rise. At age 50, approximately one in two women and one in four men can expect to have an osteoporosis-related fracture during the remainder of their lives, with the risk increasing with age. Fractures resulting from osteoporosis can be painful and debilitating, compromising the quality of patients’ lives and in the case of hip fractures, increasing the risk of institutionalization, disability and early mortality.

Prevention of Osteoporosis

Diet and exercise can help prevent development of osteoporosis. The dietary calcium found in such foods as dairy products, oil-rich fish and some vegetables and soy products, along with regular weight-bearing exercise, can help individuals build and maintain their bone mass, ideally beginning early in life. Avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption is also advised. When dietary calcium intake is insufficient, calcium and vitamin D supplements are recommended. For more information on osteoporosis prevention, consult your physician.

Physiology of Osteoporosis

The skeleton is a large dynamic organ that accounts for approximately 15% of the weight of a young adult and is the principal organ to store elemental calcium in the body. The levels of calcium in the blood are tightly regulated because of the key role calcium plays in many important bodily functions. If calcium levels are too low, the body releases parathyroid hormone to break down bone and release calcium; conversely if calcium levels are elevated the thyroid gland releases calcitonin to inhibit bone breakdown and the kidneys increase excretion of calcium into the urine.

Throughout life the bones comprising the skeleton turn over (known as remodeling) every six to 10 years. During this process old bone is removed by cells called osteoclasts and new bone is synthesized by cells called osteoblasts. This process serves to keep bones healthy, allowing micro-fractures and other small defects to be eliminated. Under normal physiologic conditions there is a balance between the amount of bone removed and the amount of new bone synthesized. This balance in bone breakdown and bone synthesis is disrupted in people with osteoporosis, when bone loss exceeds newly synthesized bone, resulting in a net loss of bone mass. Without intervention, over time the amount of bone loss can become substantial, leading to porous, fragile, easily fractured bones.

Diagnosis of Osteoporosis

Decreases in the amount of bone are most commonly detected using a specific X-ray format called DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) that measures bone mineral density (BMD). DEXA is relatively easy to perform and the amount of radiation exposure is low. At present, DEXA scanning focuses on two main areas -- the hip and spine. Although osteoporosis involves the whole body, measurements of BMD at one site can be predictive of fracture risk at other sites.  Scanning generally takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete and is painless.  As an individual loses bone, their BMD as measured by DEXA decreases. Once the decrease in BMD reaches a predetermined level, or T score, (defined as -2.5 standard deviations below a healthy young woman’s peak BMD), the individual is diagnosed as having osteoporosis. 

Osteoporosis Treatment Options

There are two main categories of osteoporosis treatments:  Anti-resorptive drugs intended to prevent further bone loss and anabolic bone-forming drugs that stimulate development of new bone:

Anti-resorptive drugs act as moderators of osteoclast activity to slow bone turnover and thereby reduce bone loss from the skeleton. Anti-resorptive drugs are the most commonly used and include calcitonins, bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS). The FDA recently approved a new injectable agent, Prolia® (denosumab), for use in women who already have osteoporosis and face a high risk of fracture.  Formerly, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was also indicated for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, but the risk of serious side effects identified in more recent studies has significantly reduced the use of HRT for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis.

Anabolic (bone-forming) drugs, acting on osteoblasts, the bone-forming cells, are generally indicated only for patients with more severe forms of osteoporosis.  The approved product in this class is a form of parathyroid hormone. 

However, potential safety issues with current drug therapies, while rare, have led some osteoporosis patients to discontinue therapy or avoid beginning treatment.  According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, studies indicate that up to half of osteoporosis patients stop their treatment after just one year.  In one study, two-thirds of osteoporosis patients said their medication interfered with their lives in some way and over 20% of the women who missed or stopped their treatment said it was due to side effects.