Osteoporosis is often thought to be caused by aging, but it is actually related to oxidative stress.

What is osteoporosis?

First of all, osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become brittle and easily fractured.

Bones are made of calcium, magnesium, and other vitamins, and new bones are continually being made through metabolism.

Bones also have cells, called osteoblasts, which make new bones and osteoclasts, which absorb old bones. Bone is formed by the formation of new bone and the resorption of old bone, but if this balance is lost and bone resorption exceeds the creation of new bone, the bone itself becomes brittle and weak.

About Bone Density

Bone density is a measure of bone strength.

Bone density is determined by the amount of bone mineral (calcium, magnesium, etc.) in a unit area (cm2) of bone  Osteoporosis is diagnosed when the bone density is less than the standard value.

Osteoporosis is more common in older women than in men and young women, and is thought to be due to the decrease in bone density caused by the decrease in female hormones (estrogen) associated with menopause.

About osteoporosis and oxidative stress

AGEs are one of the causes of osteoporosis, which is the result of the failure of bone metabolism. As mentioned in the previous article, "What are AGEs? ", AGEs are the result of proteins and glucose sticking together when glycation stress is high, that is, when blood sugar levels are high and glucose is in excess. It is also called terminal glycation product.

When these AGEs enter bone cells, especially osteoblasts that make new bones, the cells cannot breathe and die. As a result, new bone cannot be produced and the metabolic balance of the bone is upset. The result is a decrease in bone density and osteoporosis.

"What is the difference between "oxidation" and glycation?" article explains that there is a parallel between glycation and oxidation, which creates AGEs.

When blood sugar levels are high, oxidative stress rises and at the same time, glycation creates AGEs.

Some doctors are now trying to improve osteoporosis by suppressing oxidative stress.