Causes of Osteoporosis

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The bones are thickest and strongest in early adult life. From around the age of 35, more bone cells are lost than are replaced. This causes the bone to become thinner and weaker. People who exercise when they are young, and who remain active into old age, are less likely to get osteoporosis, because bones stay strong by being used.

There are a number of other factors that can increase your risk of osteoporosis:

Women are at greater risk of osteoporosis than men. This is due to the decrease in the hormone oestrogen after the menopause, which is essential for healthy bones. Women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis when they have:

An early menopause (before the age of 45);
A hysterectomy before the age of 45, especially when the ovaries are also removed;
Absent periods for a long time (more than 6 months) as a result of over-exercising or over-dieting.

The male hormone, testosterone, also helps to keep the bones healthy. Men continue to produce this hormone into old age, but the risk of osteoporosis is increased in individuals with low levels of testosterone.

Diseases of the hormone-producing glands may cause osteoporosis. The female hormone, oestrogen, and the male hormone, testosterone, are important for keeping bones strong, by processing minerals such as calcium. Osteoporosis can be triggered by hormone diseases, including:

Hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid gland);
Disorders of the adrenal glands. In Cushingâ€™s syndrome, overproduction of cortisol (a hormone produced in the adrenal glands) causes osteoporosis;
Reduced output of sex hormones (oestrogen and testosterone);
Disorders of the pituitary gland; and
Diabetes.

Other factors that can increase the risk of osteoporosis include:

A close family history of osteoporosis;
Long periods of inactivity, such as long-term bed rest. Bones stay strong by being used and by having physical forces applied to them. Weight bearing exercise such as walking and running stretch and contract the muscles, encouraging the bones to get stronger;
Heavy drinking and smoking;
Malabsorbtion problems such as Coeliac disease and Crohn's disease;
Long-term use of high dose corticosteroid treatment (widely used for conditions such as arthritis and asthma), which can affect bone strength;
Not enough calcium;
Low vitamin D levels;
Very low body mass (e.g.- being very underweight, or having thin bones as a result of eating disorders).