Osteoporosis and osteomalacia are bone diseases with different causes and symptoms. Osteoporosis causes brittle bones due to decreased bone density, while osteomalacia causes soft bones due to dietary deficiencies or underlying conditions. Both can result in broken bones and are treated with supplements and medications.
Osteoporosis and osteomalacia are diseases that affect the strength and vitality of bones; however, their causes and symptoms are fundamentally different. A degeneration of existing bones that sometimes occurs among older people, osteoporosis is not limited to the older population. On the other hand, osteomalacia causes bones to soften and is the result of a disruption in the body’s ability to build healthy bones, either due to a dietary deficiency or an underlying disease.
Resulting in brittle and porous bones, osteoporosis is a condition in which bone density is compromised. Bone mass development peaks in the early 30s and then declines with age. People with good bone mass in their 30s are less likely to develop osteoporosis in later years.
A number of factors can increase your chances of getting osteoporosis, including a decrease in the hormone estrogen, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. Postmenopausal women have a higher risk of osteoporosis because estrogen protects bone density. A diet deficient in calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus can also contribute to bone loss.
Causal connections between smoking or excessive alcohol consumption and osteoporosis are difficult to assess. Some experts argue that moderate alcohol consumption, even up to two drinks a day, can help prevent bone loss. Others say that research indicates a negative correlation with decreased bone density due to excessive alcohol consumption. Osteoporosis is more common among smokers, but again the causal connection is difficult to establish. It may be that people who smoke and drink excessively have poor health habits in general, thus leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis.
While both osteoporosis and osteomalacia are conditions that cause bone degeneration, osteomalacia produces soft bones instead of brittle bones. In younger people, this disorder is known as rickets. Osteomalacia results from dietary deficiencies of vitamin D and calcium. However, the cause of these deficiencies can go beyond dietary intake and be the result of an underlying condition that prevents the absorption of these nutrients. Certain kidney and liver disorders, as well as celiac disease, the inability to process gluten-containing foods, can prevent the body from properly absorbing the nutrients needed to build bones.
Broken bones can result from both osteoporosis and osteomalacia; however, osteoporosis rarely has obvious symptoms until bone fractures occur. Osteomalacia, on the other hand, might produce pain in the lower spine, hips, and legs, and can cause muscle weakness. Treatment for both osteoporosis and osteomalacia can include calcium and vitamin D supplements, although doctors often prescribe osteoporosis medications that can reverse and correct bone loss.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
