title: Diagnosis and treatment of osteopenia.
abstract: Osteopenia is a term to define bone density that is not normal but also not as low as osteoporosis. By definition from the World Health Organization osteopenia is defined by bone densitometry as a T score -1 to -2.5. There are many causes for osteopenia including calcium and vitamin D deficiency and inactivity. Genetics plays an important role in a person's bone mineral density and often Caucasian women with a thin body habitus who are premenopausal are found to have osteopenia. Correction of calcium and vitamin D deficiency and walking 3 to 5 miles a week can often improve bone density in the hip and spine. There are a variety of pharmaceutical agents that have been recommended for the treatment of osteopenia and osteoporosis including hormone replacement therapy, selective estrogen receptor modulator therapy, anti-resorptive therapy. In addition patients with osteoporosis who have failed anti-resorptive therapy can have a significant improvement in their bone density with anabolic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Diabetes, Vitamin D, Skin and Bone Research Laboratory, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Gulay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karaguzel
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Holick
mesh_terms: D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D