Osteopenia glossary | Osteoporosis glossary

Osteopenia glossary | Osteoporosis gloassary A - C .

AAA- calcium. Active Absorbable Algel Calcium- a highly absorbable calcium preparation that research has show to increase bone density even in the elderly. This form is sold in the United States under the name Advacal

Absorb – to draw nutrients from the intestinal tract

Aldendronate – a prescription medication used to treat bone loss. It belongs to the family of drugs called bisphosphonate.

Alkaline phosphates – a marker found in blood that indicates activity by the cells that build bone, the Osteoblasts See: Alkaline phosphates

Amenorrhea – cessation of menstrual periods, something that leads to low bone density.. Low caloric intake and excessive exercise are two things that can lead to amenorrhea.

Anabolic – a protein building metabolic action that makes complex substances from simple ones.

Anabolic steroids – synthetic hormones that produce a substance the mimicks testosterone and oter male hormones.

Androgen – male sex hormone

Androstenedione – natural steroidal hormone produced in fatty tissue where it is converted into estrogen.

Antiestrogens – drugs and compounds that minimxe the negative effects of estrogen in certain tissue.

Beta estradiol – a type of estrogen used in Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bisphosphonates – a group of compounds used to counter bone breakdown.

Blood calcium – level of dissolved calcium in the bloodstream.

Bone mineral density (BMD) measure of bone strength.

Bone modeling – the process of bone renewal where old bone is broken down and removed by Osteoclasts and new bone is formed by Osteoblasts.

Bone resorption – remove of old bone by Osteoclasts.

Calcitonin – hormone produced by the thyroid that helps control calcium levels by slowing bone loss. See: Calcitonin

Calcitriol – the active form of Vitamin D.

Calcium absorption – that calcium crosses from the intestines into the blood stream.

Calcium carbonate – a common form of calcium used in calcium supplements.

Calcium citrate – a highly absorbable form of supplemental calcium.

Calcium gluconate – a form of calcium which is used in some supplements

Calcium lactate – a form of calcium found in some supplements.

Calcium Paradox- a theory about bone loss: a deficiency of calcium in the blood leads to calcium being deposited in soft tissue.

Calcium phosphate dibasic – an uncommon source of calcium in supplements.

Cartilage – a form of connective tissue made of collagen; non bony part of the skeleton

Caucasian – usually denotes being of European ancestry; comes from Caucasus area.

Chemical castration – a drug induced suppression of testosterone production sometimes used as a treatment for prostrate cancer.

Chronic inflammatory disease – persistent disease usually characterized by inflammation and sometimes causing enlargement of lymph glands.

Collagen – tough, fibrous protein found in the structure of bones, tendons and connective tissue.

Collagen cross-link – a measure of bone resorption.

Complementary medicine – use of both alternative and conventional medicine.

Conjugated estrogens – type of estrogen used in Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Cortical bone – hard, oter bone

Corticosteroid medications – drugs which stimulate natural corticosteroid hormones produced in the adrenal glands.

Crohn’s disease – chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.

Cushing’s disease – abnormally high levels of corticosteroid hormones in the blood.

Cystophyllum fusforme – a seaweed used in producing AAA calcium.Dairy – milk, milk products and eggs.

Osteopenia glossary | Osteoporosis gloassary D - F .

Dehydroepiandrosterone – DHEA, a precursor of testosterone

Dexamethasone – corticosteroid medication.

DHEA – Dehydroepiandrosterone, precursor of testosterone.

Disphosphonates – another name for bisphosphonates.

Dolomite- a source of calcium.

Dowager’s Hump – a curve in the upper back that causes the neck and head to hang forward. See: Kyphosis.

Drolozifern – a drug, type of SERM.

Ehlers-danlos syndrome – a genetic collagen disorder that leads to bone loss.

Elemental calcium – pure calcium

Endocrine glands – glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

ERT – Estrogen replacement therapy

Estradiol - a powerful form of estrogen

Estrone – a type of estrogen used in Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Etidronate – a bisphosphonate, the first one available commercially

Osteopenia glossary | Osteoporosis gloassary G - J .

GNRH agonists – synthetic hormones that are like those released by the hypothalamus gland

Gonadotropin – hormones that stimulate activity in the gonads[ ovaries and testes]

Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists – GNRH agonists [see above].

Homoncysteinuria – a disorder of enzyme that leads to bone abnormalities etc.

HRT – Hormone replacement therapy.

HGH – human growth hormone, a powerful hormone produced by the pituitary gland.

Hydroxyproline – a marker for the rate of bone turnover.

Hypercalcemia – abnormally high calcium levels in the blood.

Hypogonadal osteoporosis – Osteoporosis caused by low levels of testosterone.

Hypoparathydroidism – under active parathyroid glands.

Hysterectomy – surgical removal of uterus and sometimes the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Ibandronate – a bisphosphonate drug used to treat Osteoporosis.

Idiopahtic hypercalcinuria – abnormally high calcium levels in the urine of unknown origin.

Idoxifene – medication, a type of SERM

Impact loading exercise – exercise movement that stimulates bone growth.

Osteopenia glossary | Osteoporosis gloassary K - M .

Kyphosis – a hunch back, curved upper spine. SEE: Kyphosis .

Lactose- milk sugar.

Lactose intolerance – inability to digest lactose

Malabsorbtion – difficulty absorbing nutrients

Marfan’s syndrome – genetic disorder that leads to skeleton abnormalities

Medroxprogesterone acetate – form of progestin

Mesgesterol acetate – form of progestin

Methotrexate – an anticancer drug.

Milk-alkalai syndrome = high blood calcium levers due to ingesting excessive milk and calcium drugs.

Multiple sclerosis – a progressive nervous system disease. To read of its connection with bone loss go to: Multiple Sclerosis and Osteopenia .

Osteopenia glossary | Osteoporosis gloassary N - P .

Norethindronte acetate – a form of progestin.

Norgestrel – a from of progestin.

Osteoblast – bone building cell

Osteocalcin – protein made by osteoblasts

Osteoclast – cells that break bone down

Osteogenesis imperfecta – genetic defect that leads to brittle bones

Osteolytic bone disease – bone tissue dissolves

Osteomalacia – disease of soft bones

Osteophyte – accretions of calcium around bones, joints

Osteoporotic collapse – the fracture or collapse of a bone under normal weights

Osteoporoitc fractures – fractures that occur because of weakened bone

Paget’s disease – a disease that interferes with normal bone processing found in middle aged and older persons.

Parathyroid hormone – hormone from the parathyroid glad that is involved in calcium metabolism and the bone resoption cycle.

Peak bone mass – the time in a person’s life when s/he has the most dense bones. It usually occurs in one’s thirties.

PERT – progestin/estrogen replacement theraphy; sometimes called hormone replacement therapy HRT.

Phytoestrogens – estrogen like compound derived from certain plants.

Polymethyl-methylacrylate – type of cement used during percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis – Osteoporosic caused by the loss of estrogen after menopause.

Prednisone – a corticosteroid medication often associated with bone loss.

Primary hyperparathyroidism – caused by overactive parathyroid glands.

Progesterone – hormone produced by ovaries.Progestin – a synthetic progesterone.

Prolactin – hormone produced by pituatry gland that stimulates mammary glands, produces milk.

Osteopenia glossary | Osteoporosis gloassary Q - T .

Raloxifene – a selective estrogen receptor modulator drug used in the treatment of Ostoeoporosis.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism – excessive parathyroid hormone circulating because of low levels of calcium in the blood..

Secondary osteoporosis – bone loss caused by some other disease that affects bone metaboloism.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators – SERMS, nonhormounal pharmaceutical compounds that mimic the action of estrogen. SEE: Evista

Sprue – intestinal disorder that prevents the absorption of nutrients.

Strontium – a mineral that has been used to increase bone density. See: Strontium

Tamoxafen – a SERM

Testosterone – androgen (male) hormone. Low levels are often associated with Osteopenia in men.

Trabecular – inner bone. Loss of trabecular bone can lead to fracture during ordinary daily activity such as rising from a chair.

Tricalcium phosphate – a calcium salt.

T-score – average bone mineral density of those during their peak bone mass years.

Tyrosine – an amino acid.

Osteopenia glossary | Osteoporosis gloassary U - z .

Urinary calcium – calcium excreted in urine.

Vertebrae – individual bones of the spine.

Vertebral compression fracture – collapse of a vertebra. This can lead to Kyphosis or Dowagers Hump.

Vertebroplasty – a nonsurgical procedure to stabilize the spine after vertebral fractures. See: Vertebroplasty

Vitamin D – an essential vitamin for bone building and growth. See: Vitamin D

Vitamin K – a vitamin needed for bone building. See: vitamin K

Zometa – a bisphosphonate drug See: Zometa

Sources for this Osteopenia glossary | Osteoporosis gloassary :

Stephen Schettinin, The Osteoporosis Remedy. Putnams 2001.