Metabolic Bone Disease
Answers to common questions about metabolic bone disease.
Questions on this page
What is metabolic bone disease?
Metabolic bone diseases are conditions in which bone formation, mineralization, calcium-phosphate metabolism or bone turnover is abnormal.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone strength and increased fracture risk.
What is osteomalacia?
Osteomalacia occurs when newly formed bone is inadequately mineralized, often because of abnormalities involving vitamin D, calcium or phosphate.
What is the difference between osteoporosis and osteomalacia?
Osteoporosis: bone mass and/or strength is reduced, but mineralization of the remaining bone is generally normal.
Osteomalacia: mineralization of newly formed bone is impaired.
The two conditions can sometimes have overlapping symptoms and require different treatments.
What is a fragility fracture?
A fragility fracture occurs after trauma that would not normally be expected to break a healthy bone, such as a fall from standing height.
Can diabetes affect bone health?
Yes. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be associated with increased fracture risk, although the mechanisms differ.