Premenopausal risk factors for osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem because of its association with fractures. Prevention of osteoporosis is of utmost importance in reducing the health and human costs related to the disease. Bone mass in adult life is determined partly by the peak bone mass accrued as a young adult, and partly by the subsequent rate of bone loss. Understanding the determinants of premenopausal bone mineral status is important in order to develop a prevention strategy. Non-modifiable risk factors are heredity and race/ethnicity. Potentially modifiable are non-genetic host factors such as intrauterine programming, body build, reproductive factors, diseases and drugs, and environmental factors such as diet, exercise and smoking and alcohol.