Osteoporosis: Causes

What causes osteoporosis?

The most common cause of osteoporosis is the reduced production of certain hormones due to aging. Women of menopausal age (about 50 years and older) experience reduced estrogen production, while men 70 and older experience reduced testosterone production. Other causes of osteoporosis include:

• Aging

• Alcoholism

• Certain antiseizure drugs

• Chronic (long-term) conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and kidney disease

• Corticosteroid medications daily for more than three months

• Eating disorders

• Heredity

• Hyperparathyroidism, an excessive production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) that causes calcium to be pulled from bones, and then reabsorbed by the intestines and kidneys

• Not consuming enough dietary calcium, vitamin D, and phosphate, which are essential for normal bone formation

• Sedentary lifestyle and long periods of inactivity, such as complete bed rest

• Smoking

What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?

A number of factors are thought to increase your chances of developing osteoporosis. However, not all people with risk factors will develop the disease. Common risk factors include those that cannot be managed or prevented and those that are treatable.

Risk factors that cannot be managed

Certain risk factors for osteoporosis cannot be controlled, treated or prevented including:

• Age

• Body size (thin, small, thin-boned women are at greater risk)

• Ethnicity (Caucasian and Asian women have the highest risks; African-American and Hispanic women have lower but significant risks)

• Family history (having parents with a history of fractures is associated with reduced bone mass and increased fracture risks)

• Gender (women are much more likely than men to develop osteoporosis; menopause increases women’s loss of bone and bone tissue)

Risk factors that can be managed

Some risk factors for osteoporosis may be prevented or treated including:

• Absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) in some cases

• Alcohol consumption

• Cigarette smoking

• Diets low in calcium, calcium deficiency, or not using calcium properly

• Diets low in vitamin D or vitamin D deficiency

• Eating disorders and low body weight, due to diet

• Excessive cortisone or thyroid hormone production

• Hormone treatments for breast and prostate cancer

• Lack of physical activity or extended bed rest