Definition
Osteoporosis, also called bone loss, is a disease of the skeletal system in which bone substances and structures are lost or greatly reduced. This reduction in bone mass causes the tissue structure of the bone to deteriorate and it loses stability and elasticity. As a result, the bones become more susceptible to fractures; in extreme cases, a fracture can even occur without a fall.
Due to the increased risk of fracture, the bone can collapse (sinter). This is particularly evident in the area of the vertebral bodies through visible changes. One example is the so-called “widow’s hump”, which can be seen especially in older women and can, under certain circumstances, lead to severe limitations in mobility.
Frequency
During the climacteric period (= menopause) an average of about 30% of all women in Germany develop osteoporosis. It is therefore assumed that there are about four million patients throughout Germany. Interestingly, there are great differences in the range of diseases with regard to their origin. Studies have shown that blacks suffer from osteoporosis much less frequently than, for example, Europeans and/or Asians.
Causes
There are a variety of causes for osteoporosis, whereby a distinction is made between two forms: The human bone consists of bone tissue, which gains in hardness and strength through certain minerals (mainly calcium and phosphate) that are stored in this tissue. It is important to know that bone is subject to a constant metabolism. Up to about 30 years of age, the build-up of bone predominates, after which it is broken down.
This process is mainly regulated by various hormones. These play an important role here: The effect of these hormones is modulated by the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. In osteoporosis, this complex mechanism is disturbed at some point, so that bone resorption becomes too strong and calcium is no longer stored in sufficient quantities, causing the bone to lose density and thus strength.
As a result, bone fractures occur more easily.
- A primary (95%) and
- A secondary form (5%), which develops on the soil of another basic disease.
- The parathyroid hormone (a hormone from the parathyroid gland that releases calcium from the bone) and
- Calcitonin (a hormone from the thyroid gland) and vitamin D (which ensures that calcium is built into the bones).
The diet can have a huge influence on the development of osteoporosis. In this case, vitamin D deficiency is considered a significant risk factor.
In the diagnosis of osteoporosis, the activated vitamin D3 (=calcitirol) is determined as standard with each blood sample. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which is taken in with food or is the only vitamin produced by the body itself. Reasons for a deficiency condition are therefore an under/deficient nutrition, low UV radiation in winter, a resorption disturbance despite sufficient supply with the food as well as education disturbances due to inferior liver – or kidney functions.
In addition to osteoporosis, a vitamin D deficiency in childhood leads to so-called “rickets” with disturbances in growth and skeletal maturation. The function of vitamin D is, among other things, to promote mineralization as well as bone formation and rebuilding. In addition the Vitamin D affects the metabolism of calcium, which is considered again as component of the bone formation: Vitamin D increases its admission in the intestine and lowers at the same time the excretion over the kidney. In the prophylaxis of osteoporosis it is therefore very important to avoid a vitamin D deficiency.
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