Osteoporosis

What is Osteoporosis? A person with osteoporosis has lost a significant amount of bone mass and is subsequently at increased risk for fracture

Healthy vs Osteoporotic Bone (NOF)

Osteoporosis Like other conditions, osteoporosis is a “silent” disease Osteoporosis is different from arthritis Picture source: Ourhealthnetwork.com

Osteoporosis Bone is very metabolically active tissue Some cells, osteoblasts, build new bone Some cells, osteoclasts, take away old bone When bone loss (resorption) exceeds formation, osteoporosis can develop over time Video clip (YouTube, 0:55)clip

Two Types of Bone Tissue: Cortical & Trabecular Cortical bone –Also known as compact bone Appendicular skeleton –Pelvis, limbs

Two Types of Bone Tissue: Cortical & Trabecular Trabecular bone –Also known as cancellous bone –Also known as “spongy” bone –More prone to osteoporosis –Bone “turnover” faster Axial skeleton –Skull –Ribs –Sternum –Spine

Osteoporosis: Vulnerable Areas Spine Hip –Although hip contains cortical bone, the area vulnerable to fractures is largely trabecular

Uncontrollable Risk Factors Age –The older the individual, the higher the risk Sex –Women are at higher risk until advanced age Race/ethnicity –Caucasian, individuals of Asian descent more at risk Family history

Uncontrollable Risk Factors Body frame size –Often assessed at wrist (circumference) or elbow (breadth) –The smaller the frame, the higher the risk –Calculator (myfooddiary.com)Calculator Some medical disorders –If calcium absorption is negatively impacted –If excessive steroid hormones are released

Controllable Risk Factors Diet –Low in calcium, Vitamin D –High in protein –High in caffeine Physical inactivity –Weight bearing exercise helps Smoking –Tobacco use increases risk –Complicated: reduced calcium absorption; lower weight; nicotine’s impact on osteoblasts, lower Vitamin D

Controllable Risk Factors Eating disorders –Anorexia nervosa increases risk –Female athlete triad = anorexia, amenorrhea, osteoporosis Excessive alcohol intake –Consumption greater than 2-3 beverages/day –Interference with calcium absorption

Osteoporosis Quiz: What’s Your Risk? University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life SciencesUniversity of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences