Osteoporosis is a bone disease manifesting in the form of reduced trabecular bone mineral density, disrupted bone architecture and changed non-collagenous protein composition.

Osteoporosis has no specific clinical symptoms but it increases risk of bone fractures. Osteoporotic fractures occur in situations where healthy people would not normally break a bone; they are therefore considered as fragility fractures. Typical fragility fractures occur in the spine, rib, hip and wrist.

The diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on measurement of the bone mineral density. The most popular method is dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA). Other methods include quantitative ultrasound bone densitometry and quantitative computer tomography.

Osteoporosis is most common in women after menopause, but may also develop in men, and may occur in anyone in the presence of particular hormonal disorders, chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal problems such as malabsorption or as a result of medications, including steroid hormones, chemotherapeutic agents and gastric acid blockers. Given its influence is the risk of fragility fractures, osteoporosis may significantly affect life expectancy and quality of life.

Institute for Specialized medicine offers its patients a comprehensive program for diagnosis, prevention and therapy of osteoporosis.

The diagnostic component of the program includes measurement of bone density and laboratory testing focused on unveiling of metabolic, inflammatory and/or hormonal causes of osteoporosis.

The prevention and therapeutic components are highly individualized and include combinations of lifestyle and dietary modifications, supplements with or without prescription medications and infusion therapy.