The Concern with Early Age Bone Loss

The dangers of early age bone loss are often overlooked, and bone loss is generally attributed to post-menopausal women. From childhood until around the age of 35 years, the body is continuously adding on layers of new bone cells and increasing bone density. However, there are several factors that can lead to a decrease in bone density that begin in or near childhood and can continue through adulthood.

Some forms of early age bone loss can be treated using medication, or through the use of a calcium and vitamin D supplement combined with physical therapy or exercise. In other cases, hormone therapy may be needed. Extreme cases may require surgery to insert rods as support for weakened bones, which may or may not be effective in preventing breaks. The cause of the bone loss is very important in determining which treatment option is most appropriate and effective.

Causes of Early Age Bone Loss

There are several diseases that can cause early age bone loss. The most notable cause of early bone loss is osteogenesis imperfecta, which is a genetic condition that causes brittle bones. There is no cure for osteogenesis imperfecta, and a person born with this disease will continue to struggle with brittle bones throughout life. Other diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and cystic fibrosis, are accompanied by an increase in the secretion of substances that encourage bone resorption.

There are two causes of early age bone loss that are not related to disease. One is the use of Depro Provera, which is a form of birth control, and another is anorexia nervosa. It is not clear why these conditions trigger bone loss, but studies have shown that the problem can be reversed. Once the use of Depro Provera has been discontinued, or anorexia nervosa has been treated, the patient can begin rebuilding bone mass through careful use of nutrition, including calcium supplementation, and weight-bearing exercise.

The issue of early age bone loss has become a concern in the medical community in recent years, leading to a number of research studies and the increased use of bone density scans. It is vital to minimize this condition as much as possible during youth, and to replace lost bone and improve bone density before the affected woman enters menopause and is at greater risk for osteoporosis.