subject: Understanding The Causes Of Low Bone Density [print this page] Bone density or bone mineral density (BMD) refers to the amount of the inorganic mineral called hydroxylapatite in every cubic centimeter of bones. The status of the bone density is used in medicine in determining other secondary causes of osteoporosis and the risks of fracture and injury. Aging, particularly of women, is of particular interest yet cases in men and children are similarly common. In order to comprehend how bones thin out, it may be sensible to consider its structure.
Bones have osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The osteoblast is what is responsible for the continous process of bone cell formation to keep it sturdy and unyielding with weight and pressure, while osteoclast functions in the desorption of old and naturally, weaker bone cells to give room to new ones. When desorption is faster than the regeneration of bone cells then the inevitable happens, bone density goes down. This is inevitable if somehow the new bone formation processes is impeded or blocked for one reason or another.
One common problem leading to bone loss is the inadequacy of the materials needed in bone regeneration like calcium, vitamin D and other minerals and salts. If the root cause of bone loss and possibly osteoporosis is nutrition issue, this can easily be solved developing a diet plan that considers loading of foods rich in said nutrients. Vitamin D deficiency may occur more often to dark-skinned people as melanin that is found in dark skin can block the absorption of Vitamin D from the sun. Activities in osteoclasts and osteoblasts are interfered with pharmacologic drugs like glucocorticoid, drugs for thyroid treatment and the anticonvulsant methotrexate. Hormonal imbalance also causes low bone density such as corticosteroid, thyroid and parathyroid hormones and estrogen. Deficient levels of estrogen (secreted by the female ovaries or converted testosterone in males) that function in building bone mass also induce bone loss. This is unavoidable as all women nearing or have already approached menopause will experience this late in life. For increasing incidence of low bone density on children living in the cities, this is significantly being linked to inactive lifestyle, little exposure to the sun and lack proper of nutrition.
It is vital that the surrounding factors and causes leading to bone loss are understood to prevent it from occurring. Should it happen, it is equally important to know hot it started and how it may be managed so it can be completely treated.
