Causes of Osteoporosis

List of causes of Osteoporosis

Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Osteoporosis) that could possibly cause Osteoporosis includes:

• Aging
• Menopause
• Pregnancy - causes the rare condition of pregnancy-associated osteoporosis
• Cushing's syndrome

More causes: see full list of causes for Osteoporosis

Causes of Osteoporosis (Diseases Database):

The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Osteoporosis that are listed by the Diseases Database:

• Zero gravity
• Copper deficiency
• Dibasic aminoaciduria type 2
• Werner's syndrome
• Hajdu-Cheney syndrome
• Hyperostosis corticalis deformans juvenilis
• Methylmalonic aciduria type 2
• Cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency
• Anorexia nervosa
• Exemestane
• Ethanol
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hyperimmunoglobulin E (IgE) syndrome
• Haemochromatosis
• Singleton-Merten syndrome
• Beta thalassaemia (severe / homozygous)
• Reflex sympathetic osteodystrophy
• Sarcoidosis
• Winchester syndrome
• Hallermann-Streiff syndrome (HSS)
• Cyproterone
• Cushing's disease
• Rheumatoid disease
• Glycerol kinase deficiency
• Bonnet-Dechaume-Blanc syndrome
• Prednisolone
• Cushing's syndrome
• Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome
• Heparin
• Geroderma osteodysplastica
• Torg osteolysis syndrome
• Orchidectomy
• Fabry's disease
• Pseudoprogeria syndrome
• Hyperparathyroidism, primary
• Mastocytosis
• Wolcott-Rallison syndrome
• Immobility
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Myeloma
• Systemic infantile hyalinosis

Causes of Osteoporosis: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Osteoporosis.

Low Back Pain/Swelling: Differential Diagnosis
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)

• Lumbosacral muscle strain
  –Most common etiology of low back pain
  –Most common cause of disability in adults <45 years old
  –Aggravated by movement, better with rest
• Lumbar disc herniation
  –Especially of L4-L5 and L5-S1
  –Usually with unilateral radiation down the leg in a dermatomal pattern
  –Increased pain with sitting
  • Spinal stenosis
    –Back and bilateral buttock and thigh pain in older patients relieved by rest (pseudoclaudication)
    –Increased pain with standing
  • Sacral-iliac joint dysfunction
    –Especially in young, thin women or in pregnancy
    –Unilateral upper buttock pain, relieved with movement
  • Vertebral fracture
    –Often associated with trauma or osteoporosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
    –Especially in young athletes
  • Secondary gain (e.g., drug seeking, disability or liability issue)
  • Extraspinal causes (e.g., radiation from kidney stones)
  • Systemic causes (<1%)
    –Inflammation (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis): Morning stiffness, limited mobility
    –Infection: Osteomyelitis, abscess
    –Abdominal aortic aneurysm
    –Cancer (especially metastases from prostate, lung, colon, and breast or myeloma); constant, worsening pain, wakes up from sleep
    –Cauda equina syndrome
    –Paget's disease
  '>>

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Low birth weight: Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))

This section lists some fetal and placental causes of low birth weight as well as the associated signs and symptoms pres-ent in the neonate at birth.

Chromosomal aberrations

Abnormalities in the number, size, or configuration of chromosomes can cause low birth weight and possibly multiple congenital anomalies in a premature or SGA neonate

For example, a neonate with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) may be SGA and have prominent epicanthal folds, a flat-bridged nose, a protruding tongue, palmar simian creases, muscular hypotonia, and an umbilical hernia.

Cytomegalovirus infection

Although low birth weight in cytomegalovirus infection is usually associated with premature birth, the neonate may be SGA

Assessment at birth may reveal these classic signs: petechiae and ecchymoses, jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly, which increases for several days. The neonate may also have a high fever, lymphadenopathy, tachypnea, and dyspnea, along with prolonged bleeding at puncture sites.

Placental dysfunction

Low birth weight and a wasted appearance occur in an SGA neonate

He may be symmetrically short or may appear relatively long for his low weight. Additional findings reflect the underlying cause. For example, if maternal hyperparathyroidism caused placental dysfunction, the neonate may exhibit muscle jerking and twitching, carpopedal spasm, ankle clonus, vomiting, tachycardia, and tachypnea.

Rubella (congenital)

Usually, the low-birth-weight neonate with this congenital rubellais born at term but is SGA

A characteristic “blueberry muffin” rash accompanies cataracts, purpuric lesions, hepatosplenomegaly, and a large anterior fontanel

Abnormal heart sounds, if present, vary with the type of associated congenital heart defect.

Varicella (congenital)

Low birth weight is accompanied by cataracts and skin vesicles.

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Osteoporosis: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The cause of primary osteoporosis is unknown; however, a mild but prolonged negative calcium balance, resulting from an inadequate dietary intake of calcium, may be an important contributing factor — as may declining gonadal or adrenal function, faulty protein metabolism due to estrogen deficiency, and sedentary lifestyle. Causes of secondary osteoporosis are many: prolonged therapy with steroids or heparin, total immobilization or disuse of a bone (as with hemiplegia, for example), alcoholism, malnutrition, malabsorption, scurvy, lactose intolerance, osteogenesis imperfecta, Sudeck’s atrophy (localized to hands and feet, with recurring attacks), and endocrine disorders (hypopituitarism, acromegaly, thyrotoxicosis, long-standing diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism).

The incidence of osteoporosis is high, with an estimated 10 million U.S. residents suffering from osteoporosis and another 18 million suffering from low bone mass, or osteopenia. Incidence is higher in women than in men, with women older than age 50 accounting for 20% of cases. Another 30% of women have osteopenia, which can deteriorate into osteoporosis.

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Low birth weight: Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

This section lists some fetal and placental causes of low birth weight as well as the associated signs and symptoms present in the neonate at birth.

Chromosomal aberrations

Abnormalities in the number, size, or configuration of chromosomes can cause low birth weight and possibly multiple congenital anomalies in a premature or SGA neonate. For example, a neonate with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) may be SGA and have prominent epicanthal folds, a flat-bridged nose, a protruding tongue, palmar simian creases, muscular hypotonia, and an umbilical hernia.

Cytomegalovirus infection

Although low birth weight in this disorder is usually associated with premature birth, some neonates may be SGA. Assessment at birth may reveal these classic signs: petechiae and ecchymoses, jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly, which increases for several days. The neonate may also have a high fever, lymphadenopathy, tachypnea, and dyspnea, along with prolonged bleeding at puncture sites.

Placental dysfunction

Low birth weight and a wasted appearance occur in an SGA neonate. The neonate may be symmetrically short or may appear relatively long for his low weight. Additional findings reflect the underlying cause. For example, if maternal hyperparathyroidism caused placental dysfunction, the neonate may exhibit muscle jerking and twitching, carpopedal spasm, ankle clonus, vomiting, tachycardia, and tachypnea.

Rubella (congenital)

Usually, the low-birth-weight neonate with this disease is born at term but is SGA. A characteristic “blueberry muffin” rash accompanies cataracts, purpuric lesions, hepatosplenomegaly, and a large anterior fontanel. Abnormal heart sounds, if present, vary with the type of associated congenital heart defect.

Toxoplasmosis (congenital)

The low-birth-weight neonate may be either premature or SGA and may have hydrocephalus or microcephalus. Associated findings include fever, seizures, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, and rash. Other defects, which may occur months or years later, include strabismus, blindness, epilepsy, and mental retardation.

Varicella (congenital)

Low birth weight is accompanied by cataracts and skin vesicles.

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Low Back Pain: Differential Overview
(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)

❑ Musculoligamentous strain

❑ Lumbar disc herniation

❑ Osteoarthritis

❑ Compression fracture

❑ Pyelonephritis

❑ Secondary gain

❑ Scoliosis

❑ Spondylolisthesis

❑ Metastatic cancer

❑ Spinal stenosis

❑ Transverse process fracture

❑ Pancreatic cancer

❑ Ankylosing spondylitis

❑ Sacroiliitis

❑ Aortic dissection

❑ Cauda equina syndrome

❑ Vertebral osteomyelitis

❑ Epidural abscess

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Osteoporosis: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

The cause of primary osteoporosis is unknown; however, a mild but prolonged negative calcium balance, resulting from an inadequate dietary intake of calcium, may be an important contributing factor — as may declining gonadal adrenal function, faulty protein metabolism due to estrogen deficiency, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Causes of secondary osteoporosis include prolonged therapy with steroids or heparin, total immobilization or disuse of a bone (as with hemiplegia, for example), alcoholism, malnutrition, malabsorption, scurvy, lactose intolerance, hyperthyroidism, osteogenesis imperfecta, and Sudeck’s atrophy (localized to hands and feet, with recurring attacks).

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Low birth weight: Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)

This section lists some fetal and placental causes of low birth weight as well as the associated signs and symptoms present in the neonate at birth.

Chromosomal aberrations.Abnormalities in the number, size, or configuration of chromosomes can cause low birth weight and possibly multiple congenital anomalies in a premature or SGA neonate. For example, a neonate with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) may be SGA and have prominent epicanthal folds, a flat-bridged nose, a protruding tongue, palmar simian creases, muscular hypotonia, and an umbilical hernia.

Cytomegalovirus infection.Although low birth weight in cytomegalovirus infection is usually associated with premature birth, the neonate may be SGA. Assessment at birth may reveal these classic signs: petechiae and ecchymoses, jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly, which increases for several days. The neonate may also have a high fever, lymphadenopathy, tachypnea, and dyspnea, along with prolonged bleeding at puncture sites.

Placental dysfunction.With placental dysfunction, low birth weight and a wasted appearance occur in an SGA neonate. He may be symmetrically short or may appear relatively long for his low weight. Additional findings reflect the underlying cause. For example, if maternal hyperparathyroidism caused placental dysfunction, the neonate may exhibit muscle jerking and twitching, carpopedal spasm, ankle clonus, vomiting, tachycardia, and tachypnea.

Rubella (congenital).Usually, the low-birth-weight neonate with congenital rubella is born at term but is SGA. A characteristic “blueberry muffin” rash accompanies cataracts, purpuric lesions, hepatosplenomegaly, and a large anterior fontanel. Abnormal heart sounds, if present, vary with the type of associated congenital heart defect.

Varicella (congenital).With congenital varicella, low birth weight is accompanied by cataracts and skin vesicles.

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Osteoporosis as a complication of other conditions:

Other conditions that might have Osteoporosis as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Osteoporosis. Our database lists the following as having Osteoporosis as a complication of that condition:

• Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
• Brown-Sequard Syndrome
• Celiac Disease
• Crohn's disease
• Cushing's syndrome
• Diamond-Blackfan anemia
• Eating disorders
• Galactorrhoea-Hyperprolactinaemia
• Gonadal dysgenesis
• Kidney conditions
• Kidney disease
• Lactotroph adenoma
• Menkes Disease
• Menopause
• Neuritis
• Ovarian insufficiency due to FSH resistance
• Ovarian insufficiency, familial
• Premature aging
• Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Prolactinoma
• Prolactinoma, familial
• Renal osteodystrophy
• Ulcerative colitis
• Underweight
• Werner syndrome

Osteoporosis as a symptom:

Conditions listing Osteoporosis as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Osteoporosis. Our database lists the following as having Osteoporosis as a symptom of that condition:

• Abderhalden-Kaufmann-Lignac syndrome
• Achalasia - addisonianism - alacrima syndrome
• Achalasia - Addisonianism - Alacrimia syndrome
• Acroosteolysis neurogenic
• Adrenal adenoma, familial
• Adrenal Cancer
• Adrenal Cortex Diseases
• Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms
• Adrenal gland hyperfunction
• Adrenal incidentaloma
• Adrenocortical carcinoma
• Andropause
• Aromatase deficiency
• Aural atresia - multiple congenital anomalies - mental retardation
• Boyd-Stearns syndrome
• Brachydactyly - tibial hypoplasia
• Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosus
• Cholestasis
• Christian-Demyer-Franken syndrome
• Chromosome 1, deletion q21 q25
• Cushing syndrome, familial
• Cushing's syndrome
• Cutis laxa - osteoporosis
• Davis syndrome
• Dibasic aminoaciduria 2
• Dwarfism - thin bones - multiple fractures
• Dyskeratosis Congenita
• Eccentrochondrodysplasia
• Fanconi-Albertini-Zellweger syndrome
• Fanconi-ichthyosis-dysmorphism
• Fontaine-Farriaux-Blanckaert syndrome
• Functioning pancreatic endocrine tumor
• Geroderma osteodysplastica
• Gorham's syndrome
• Hajdu-Cheney Syndrome
• Hapnes-Boman-Skeie syndrome
• Hutchinson Gilford Syndrome
• Hyper IgE
• Hyper-IgE Syndrome
• Hyperadrenalism
• Hyperglycerolemia, infantile form
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Hyperprolactinemia
• Hypertrichotic osteochondrodysplasia
• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism - syndactyly
• Hypophosphatemic rickets
• Immunodeficiency with short limb dwarfism
• Infantile multisystem inflammatory disease
• Jacobsen syndrome
• Job syndrome
• Kaler-Garrity-Stern syndrome
• Kniest dysplasia
• Larsen syndrome, recessive type
• Larsen-like osseous dysplasia - dwarfism
• Lichstenstein syndrome
• Lobstein disease
• Lockwood-Feingold syndrome
• Lysinuric protein intolerance
• Macroepiphyseal dysplasia with osteoporosis, wrinkled skin, and aged appearance
• Marie-Bamberg syndrome
• Mental retardation, Buenos Aires type
• Metaphyseal chondrodysplasia Spahr type
• Metaphyseal dysplasia - maxillary hypoplasia - brachydactyly
• Metaphyseal dysplasia Pyle type
• Methylmalonic academia, Cobalamin B deficiency
• Methylmalonic acidemia, cobalamin A deficiency
• Methylmalonic acidemia, Methylmalonyl CoA mutase deficiency
• Methylmalonic acidemia, methylmalonyl CoA racemase deficiency
• Microcephaly - mental retardation - retinopathy
• Mixed connective tissue disease
• Morquio syndrome
• Morquio syndrome type A
• Morquio syndrome, type B
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
• Multiple Myeloma
• Multiple pterygium syndrome lethal type
• Nonkeratan-sulfate-excreting Morquio syndrome
• Osteochondrodysplatic dwarfism - deafness - retinitis pigmentosa
• Osteogenesis imperfecta, type 6
• Osteolysis hereditary multicentric
• Osteoporosis
• Osteoporosis - macrocephaly - mental retardation - blindness
• Osteoporosis - oculocutaneous - hypopigmentation syndrome
• Otospondylomegaepiphyseal dysplasia
• Oxalosis
• Oxalosis, type I
• Oxalosis, Type II
• Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, recessive, acute infantile
• Pena Shokeir syndrome, type 1
• Pena-Shokeir syndrome Type 2
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Premature aging, Okamoto type
• Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Prolidase deficiency
• Proximal tubulopathy - diabetes mellitus - cerebellar ataxia
• Pseudoprogeria syndrome
• Rajab-Spranger syndrome
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome
• Renal osteodystrophy
• Richieri-Costa Da Silva syndrome
• Riley Shwachman syndrome
• Sakati syndrome
• Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome
• Short stature - hyperkaliemia - acidosis
• Singleton-Merten Syndrome
• Snyder-Robinson syndrome
• Spinocerebellar ataxia - dysmorphism
• Spinocerebellar ataxia-dysmorphism syndrome
• Sponastrime dysplasia
• Spondylo-ocular syndrome
• Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with multiple dislocations
• Spondylometaphyseal dysplasia with dentinogenesis imperfecta
• Storm syndrome
• Thick skull syndrome
• Tricho-hepato-enteric syndrome
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Urban rogers meyer syndrome
• Werner syndrome
• Wilson's Disease
• Winchester Syndrome
• Wolman syndrome

Medications or substances causing Osteoporosis:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Osteoporosis as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Glucocorticoids - when used for long periods, such as over 2 months, can reduce bone mass.
• Corticosteroids
• Anti-seizure medications
• Gonadotropin releasing hormone - used treatment of endometriosis
• Aluminum-containing antacids

See full list of 25 medications causing Osteoporosis

Drug interactions causing Osteoporosis:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Osteoporosis as a symptom.

The list below is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Raloxifene and Prednisone interaction #occurs with long term use of Prednisone
• Evista and Prednisone interaction #occurs with long term use of Prednisone
• Raloxifene and Deltasone interaction #occurs with long term use of Deltasone
• Evista and Deltasone interaction #occurs with long term use of Deltasone
• Flunisolide and Phenytoin interaction

See full list of 80 drug interactions causing Osteoporosis

What causes Osteoporosis?

Causes: Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis may be attributed to three factors: (1) accelerated bone loss at menopause in women or as men and women age; (2) suboptimal bone growth during childhood and adolescence resulting in failure to reach peak bone mass; and (3) bone loss secondary to disease conditions, eating disorders, or certain medications and medical treatments. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis Progress and Promise: NIAMS)
Article excerpts about the causes of Osteoporosis:
Bone is living tissue. Special cells called osteoclasts are constantly breaking down old bone as other cells known as osteoblasts are replacing it with new tissue. As people age, more bone is broken down than is replaced. The inside of bone normally looks like a honeycomb. In osteoporosis the spaces in this honeycomb grow larger because much more bone is destroyed than is replaced. This makes your bones weaker.

Experts do not fully understand why this happens. They do know that after women go through menopause, levels of the female hormone estrogen are much lower. These lower hormone levels can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis. Other causes of this disease include too little exercise and a diet too low in calcium and vitamin D. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Medical news summaries relating to Osteoporosis:

The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Osteoporosis:

• Better testing for osteoporosis
• Calcium is a vital mineral in our diets
• Calcium supplementation during puberty may reduce risk of osteoporosis later in life
• Celiac disease more common than thought
• Commonly confused celiac disease
• Crohn’s patients suffering from bone loss benefit most from only calcium and vitamin D therapy
• Depo-Provera users need to evaluate the risk of bone mass loss with the benefits
• Heart disease established from embryonic stage
• High salt consumption can cause a range of health problems
• HRT may help men with prostate cancer without the negative side effects
• Inhaled steroids may increase risk of osteoporosis
• Insufficient magnesium may increase the risk of osteoporosis
• Men and osteoporosis
• MRSA caused coma in woman
• New surgical interventions for osteoporosis
• Operation options for obesity
• Osteoporosis and 'the pill'.
• Osteoporosis can be avoided by taking precautions
• Osteoporosis detectable in nails
• Osteoporosis rates expected to increase with reduced useage of HRT
• Osteoporosis risk defined for degenerative disease treatment being developed
• Osteoporosis, a burdening disease
• Osteoporotic drugs fight on bones
• Poor glucose control in teenage diabetics may compromise their bone formation
• Prevention of osteoporosis in cystic fibrosis
• Prostate cancer victims need more focus on osteoporosis prevention
• Some health facts about diet soda
• Symptoms of old age may be similar to many other treatable conditions
• Testicle removal to treat prostate cancer may increase osteoporosis risk
• Top sportsman returns to professional sport after kidney transplant
• Vitamin D essential for more than just bone health

Related information on causes of Osteoporosis:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Osteoporosis may be found in:

• Risk factors for Osteoporosis
• Medications that may cause Osteoporosis
• Hidden causes of Osteoporosis