• Question: why do your bones get more brittle as you mature

    Asked by 442aged37 to Carolyn, Peter, Richard, Sara, Siana on 10 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by KIBBLEWIBBLE, SophieL, WILSON.
    • Photo: Peter Francis

      Peter Francis answered on 10 Nov 2015:

      There is a strong genetic link with osteoporosis which can be caused by hormonal imbalance. However, there are several environmental factors which can increase the risk of osteoporosis. Calcium is important for our bone mineral density and therefore we must have enough in our diet. However, you cannot absorb calcium into the bone effectively without enough vitamin D. We get Vitamin D from the sun which is a real problem in the UK during winter which is why many people need a supplement. Vitamin D is also important for our muscle and brain. Weight bearing exercise is also very important for bone health. Like muscle, if you stimulate bone it grows stronger. Hormonal changes particularly in women after the menopause, combined with changes in dietary intake and physical activity likely contribute the increase in brittle bones with ageing in addition to genetic predisposition.

    • Photo: Richard Unwin

      Richard Unwin answered on 11 Nov 2015:

      Our bones are constantly changing, with old bone and the minerals, especially calcuium, ‘resorbed’ (broken down) and then deposited by special cells called osteoBlasts (Build) and osteoClasts (Consume). As we get older, our osteoclasts. As we grow, the balance is towards building bone (we get bigger), as we age this balance can shift towards breaking down bone – we break bone down but don’t make enough to replace it – so our bones in old age can become easier to break.
      As Peter said, the rate at which this happens can also depend on genetics, calcium and vitamin D in the diet, and hormones with women being more affected than men.

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