Bone Health Basics

Bone is an active tissue that is vital for many important bodily functions including providing support and structure, facilitating movement, producing blood cells, and storing and releasing minerals and fat. Bone is actively remodeling by resorbing old bone and forming new bone. These processes are carried about by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. When there is a balance between the processes of bone remodeling, resorption and formation, in adults, bone density is maintained and healthy. However, when bone resorption occurs at a greater rate than bone formation, bone density is reduced. This can be caused as a side effect of disease, such as the case in diabetes, or as a result of disease, such as osteoporosis. Bone health can be assessed several different ways including through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to determine and monitor bone mineral density (BMD) or through protein assays of bone turnover marker (BTMs) to look directly at the different biochemical markers of bone remodeling. Measurement of BMD and BTM both have their benefits and downsides and a combination of both is most ideal for obtaining a holistic view of an individual’s bone health and remodeling.