Osteoporosis The purpose of this paper is to di

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 decou

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Einhorn (1995) report that another consequence of osteoporosis is a propensity to fall, which in turn increases the risk of fractures. Given this fact, the authors report that prevention of the condition must be a key focus for health care practitioners. Treatments Adachi (1996) reports that the goals of treatment for patients with osteoporosis are to maintain normal bone and to prevent the deterioration of normal bone to osteoporotic bone. The achievement of these goals, combined with a successful approach to prevention of falls, may substantially decrease the incidence and risk of fractures. Specific treatment approaches to osteoporosis, according to Adachi (1996), are diverse: (1) patient strategies (e.g., administration of calcium, exercise); (2) drug therapy to stimulate bone formation (e.g., fluoride, anabolic steroids), and (3) drugs to inhibit bone resorption (e.g., estrogen replacement therapy, calcitonin, bisphosphonates). Breslau (1994) has discussed calcium, estrogen and progestin in the treatment of osteoporosis. According to Breslau, an adequate calcium intake is important to attain peak bone mass and to oppose that component of age-related bone loss from insufficient intestinal calcium absorption. Calcium

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