The purpose of this paper is to discuss an age-related pathology, osteoporosis. The paper begins with a definition of the disorder; this is followed by discussions of its causes, consequences and treatments. Studies concerned with these aspects of the topic are explained and compared, and their conclusions are applied to osteoporosis.
Definition and Types of Osteoporosis
Gabby (1994) states that osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease in Western societies; it is characterized by a reduction of bone mass, leading to the increased susceptibility to fractures. Gabby also notes that with increases in life expectancy and in the number of elderly people, bone loss and fractures are becoming more common in the United States and throughout the world.
Osteoporosis can vary in type. According to Schacht (1994), Type I consists of post-menopausal osteoporosis which results from estrogen defect. Regarding this type of the disorder, Schacht reports that the loss of bone mass exceeds the rate of osteogenesis; at the same time, bone metabolism is increased (bone remodeling). Senile osteoporosis (Type II) is characterized by a vitamin D deficiency (hypovitaminosis) and in particular by reduced synthesis of active vitamin D metabolites in the kidneys and in bone (1alpha-hydroxylase deficiency), as well as by a vitamin D resistance (Schacht, 1994). The most common form of secondary osteoporosis, corticoid osteoporosis (Type III), is caused by a decoupling of bone remodeling, i.e., increased bone absorption occurs simultaneously with direct and indirect inhibition of bone formation (Schacht, 1994).
According to Kleerekoper and Sullivan (1995), hormonal deficiencies accompanying ovarian failure are instrumental in producing osteoporosis in most women. In other words, the major cause of osteoporosis in women is estrogen withdrawal, most commonly associated with the menopause; however, the authors do note that the con...