What is the meaning of the term osteopenia?
Listen to pronunciation. (OS-tee-oh-PEE-nee-uh) A condition in which there is a lower-than-normal bone mass or bone mineral density (the amount of bone mineral contained in a certain amount of bone). Osteopenia is a less severe form of bone loss than osteoporosis.
What is another name for osteopenia?
| Osteopenia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Low bone mass, low bone density |
| Specialty | Rheumatology, Endocrinology |
| Symptoms | Usually asymptomatic |
| Complications | Development into Osteoporosis |
What diseases can cause osteopenia?
Not only do bones lose density with age, medications used to treat breast cancer, arthritis, asthma, Crohn’s disease and Addison’s disease can also lower bone density. Some illnesses such as hyperthyroidism, hypopituaritism and eating disorders also cause bones to lose strength.
Does osteopenia go away?
Usually, osteopenia does not reverse, but with the proper treatment, the bone density can stabilize and the risk for a bone fracture improves.
How much vitamin D should you take if you have osteopenia?
Due to the relative lack of vitamin D-containing foods, supplements of vitamin D are often necessary to achieve an adequate intake. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) recommends an intake of 800 to 1000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 per day for adults over age 50 (NOF 2008).
What is the medical dictionary definition of osteopenia?
os·te·o·pe·ni·a. 1. Decreased calcification or density of bone; a descriptive term applicable to all skeletal systems in which such a condition is noted; carries no implication about causality. 2. Reduced bone mass due to inadequate osteoid synthesis.
Why does osteopenia cause a reduction in bone mass?
Reduced bone mass due to inadequate osteoid synthesis. Reduction in bone mass, usually caused by a lowered rate of formation of new bone that is insufficient to keep up with the rate of bone destruction. Osteopenia often occurs together with amenorrhea and eating disorders in female athletes. It can lead to premature osteoporosis if left untreated.
Which is less severe osteoporosis or osteopenia?
A generalized reduction in bone mass that is less severe than that resulting from osteoporosis, caused by the resorption of bone at a rate that exceeds bone synthesis.
What is the medical term for low bone mass?
Privacy & Trust Info Osteopenia: Mild thinning of the bone mass. Osteopenia represents a low bone mass and is not as severe as osteoporosis. Osteopenia results when formation of new bone (osteoid synthesis) is not sufficient to offset normal bone loss (osteoid lysis).