Metabolic bone disease can result from dietary deficiencies, lack of sunlight exposure, or genetic defects. It can lead to conditions such as osteoporosis, rickets, and osteogenesis imperfecta. Treatment involves identifying the specific condition and using a combination of hormone replacement drugs, vitamin D and calcium supplementation, and prescribed medications.
Metabolic bone disease is a disease that occurs due to certain dietary deficiencies, lack of exposure to sunlight, or a defect in an individual’s genetic code. Traditionally, bones require high amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D to achieve proper growth and maintenance. The absence of any of these elements results in substantially reduced bone density and causes bones to become very weak and fragile. While metabolic bone disease can refer to a number of conditions, it is most often thought to relate to osteoporosis, rickets, and osteogenesis imperfecta.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones of the body become increasingly porous, lose density, and become light in mass. Traditionally, osteoporosis occurs most commonly in women who are past the age of menopause, due to changes in hormones that occur at this time. However, other conditions can also lead to the development of osteoporosis, such as smoking, hyperthyroidism, certain nutritional deficiencies and lack of physical activity.
Unlike osteoporosis, rickets occurs mainly in childhood. Typically, this condition does not affect bone density, but rather causes them to become soft. This disease most often occurs due to a lack of vitamin D in the diet, although other conditions, such as a poorly functioning liver, can also lead to the development of rickets.
Osteogenesis imperfecta is often caused by a specific genetic mutation that affects the production of collagen in the body’s bones. While normal bones are typically composed of high amounts of collagen, those with osteogenesis imperfecta have substantial collagen deficiencies. Osteogenesis imperfecta commonly results in the formation of bones that break easily and are very brittle. While this condition can be very dangerous for people of any age, children diagnosed with this condition have the highest mortality rate.
To successfully treat a particular metabolic bone disease, it is important to first identify the specific condition the patient is suffering from. Typically, osteoporosis sufferers are prescribed a variety of hormone replacement drugs. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation is also a good choice for those with osteoporosis and those diagnosed with rickets. Often, those diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta must rely on prescribed medications to treat their condition. For best results, patients must often use a combination of different treatment methods to successfully treat their specific metabolic bone disease.
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