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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Images comparing the interior of a healthy bone with one that has become porous from osteoporosis Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis Insight

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Your bones are in a constant state of renewal — new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When you're young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone and your bone mass increases. Most people reach their peak bone mass by their early 20s. As people age, bone mass is lost faster than it's created.

How likely you are to develop osteoporosis depends partly on how much bone mass you attained in your youth. The higher your peak bone mass, the more bone you have "in the bank" and the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.

Risk factors Symptoms
References
  1. Osteoporosis: Handout on health. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/osteoporosis_hoh.asp. Accessed March 25, 2013.
  2. Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed March 25, 2013.
  3. Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2013. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=$eid&isbn=978-1-4557-0295-4&uniqId=398813857-1936. Accessed March 25, 2013.
  4. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2013: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-08373-7..00002-9&isbn=978-0-323-08373-7&about=true&uniqId=343863096-23. Accessed March 25, 2013.
  5. Kennel KA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 26, 2013.
  6. Rosen HN. Bisphosphonates in the management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 26, 2013.
  7. Finkelstein JS. Treatment of osteoporosis in men. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 26, 2013.
  8. Rosen CJ. Parathyroid hormone therapy for osteoporosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 26, 2013.
  9. Rosen HN. Denosumab for osteoporosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 26, 2013.
  10. Calcium. Office of Dietary Supplements. National Institutes of Health. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional. Accessed March 26, 2013.
  11. Ask Mayo Expert. Vitamin D deficiency. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
  12. Vitamin D. Office of Dietary Supplements. National Institutes of Health. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional. Accessed March 26, 2013.
DS00128 June 21, 2013

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