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Background on Osteoporosis

Return to Beta blockers: Answer to osteoporosis?

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that causes bones to become thin and porous, significantly increasing the risk for hip and spine fractures.

Who gets osteoporosis?

It is a myth that only older women develop osteoporosis, according to an October 2004 report by the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. Four times as many men and three times as many women actually have condition than report having it. Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races, and while bone weakness manifests in older Americans, strong bones begin in childhood.

What is the extent of the problem?

An estimated 10 million Americans over the age of 50 suffer from osteoporosis and 1.5 million suffer fractures related to the disease each year at an estimated cost of $18 billion. An estimated 30 million people worldwide suffer from the disease.

What is the effect of such fractures?

Hip fractures often require hospitalization and leave about half who suffer them unable to walk independently. Fractures of spine can cause loss of height and severe back pain. Both types of breaks may lead to permanent disability.

What contributes to osteoporosis?

Developing osteoporosis depends on the thickness of bones early in life, as well as health, diet, and physical activity later in life. Smoking, eating disorders, low body weight, lack or small amount of calcium in the diet, heavy alcohol consumption, early menopause, absence of menstrual periods and use of certain medications, such as steroids and anticonvulsants, are all risk factors.

In its early form, the disease causes no symptoms. Later problems include:

• Fractures of the vertebrae, wrists, or hips (usually the first indication)
• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Bone pain or tenderness
• Loss of height over time
• Stooped posture

Currently, conventional treatments focus on slowing down or stopping bone loss. Medications such as bisphosphonates or SERMS are prescribed to prevent existing bone loss and reduce the risk of spinal and hip fractures.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), once considered the gold standard in treating osteoporosis, slows bone loss and boost estrogen levels. However, ERT has recently been discovered to be associated with long-term health risks (increased risk of heart attack, stroke, breast cancer and blood clots), and its use has rapidly declined.

Regular exercise can reduce the likelihood of bone fractures associated with osteoporosis. Regular dietary intake of calcium is essential for bone formation and maintenance of healthy bone. Dietary Vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium, is also essential. Maintaining a healthy diet as recommended by the FDA, which includes a sufficient amount of calcium, phosphorous, and Vitamin D, is very important.

For more information, please see the Surgeon General’s report at
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth/ and the National Osteoporosis Foundation at http://www.nof.org/

Other information on Dr. Karsenty's work:

• http://www.bcm.edu/fromthelab/vol03/is3/04apr_n1.htm
• http://www.bcm.edu/fromthelab/vol03/is4/04may_n3.htm
• http://www.bcm.edu/development/donor-lawrence.htm
• http://www.bcm.edu/pa/tomorrow.htm#bones

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