Osteoporosis Case Study

Osteoporosis: Marissa

Bones are dense and provide support, structure, and protection for the body. Bone remodeling involves the removal of mineralized bone by osteoclasts. Its purpose is to adjust bone structure, as well as repairs damaged bone matrix that can prevent the accumulation of old bone. There are three consecutive phases: resorption, when osteoclasts digest old bone; reversal, when mononuclear cells appear on the bone surface; and formation; when osteoblasts lay down new bone until the resorbed bone is completely replaced. (*1)

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Calcium is a mineral that helps makes bones stronger. The body cannot make calcium, it gets it from the food you eat. (*3)

Parathyroid glands control the calcium in your bones and blood. Parathyroid hormone is released by these glands when the amount of calcium in your blood decreases. The parathyroid hormone does this by releasing some of the calcium from your bones, and stimulate the production of active Vitamin D. Calcitonin is a hormone which is stimulated when the levels of calcium become too high. Calcitonin reduces blood levels of calcium by stopping the release of stored calcium from the bones by inhibiting the cells that normally break down the calcium. It also increases the amount of calcium released by the kidneys into the urine, so less is returned to the blood.(*4*5)

In osteoporosis, the osteoclasts are breaking down bone faster than the osteoblasts are building it up - which results in bone porosity.

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Scientists know that it is characterized by a decrease in bone density and an increase in bone fragility. They know that in people over the age of 60, 60% of women and 30% of men will be diagnosed with osteoporosis. Women are more likely to get it because of their small skeletal frames. 1 in 5 women in America will be diagnosed with osteoporosis. This is largely due to menopause and the sudden change in hormones. Caucasian have the greatest risk of being diagnosed with osteoporosis....