Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, matched cryogenically preserved sera (serum), plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) bio-fluid samples from patients diagnosed with osteoporosis.
The sera (serum), plasma and PBMC biofluid specimens are processed from osteoporosis patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
The osteoporosis sera (serum), plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) biofluids are processed from patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Osteoporosis Overview
Osteoporosis is a progressive metabolic bone disease that causes thins and weakens the bones. The word osteoporosis means “porous bones,” This condition causes the bones to gradually become thin and weaken, leaving them at greater risk of fractures easily, especially the bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. The body reabsorbs more bone tissue and produces less to replace it.
In older patients, hip fractures can be particularly dangerous. Since the healing process takes a long-time it can lead to possibly deadly complications, like blood clots or pneumonia.
In the United States, an estimated 10 million people over the age of 50 years and older have osteoporosis. Most of these people are women, but about 2 million are men.
Experts believe it’s because women’s bones tend to be lighter and less dense and because their bodies go through hormonal changes after menopause that speed up the loss of bone mass.
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) estimate that over 44 million people in the United States currently have osteoporosis.
Signs and Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis develops slowly, and a patient may not know they have it until they experience a fracture or break after a minor incident, such as a fall. Even a cough or sneeze can cause a break in osteoporotic bones.
Breaks will often occur in the hip, wrists, or the spinal vertebrae for people who have osteoporosis.
If a break occurs in the spinal vertebrae, it can lead to changes in posture, a stoop, and curvature of the spine. Patients might also notice a decrease in height, or their clothes may not fit as well as they did previously.
Severe discomfort in any of the common locations for osteoporotic bone damage could indicate an unexpected or unidentified fracture.
Causes of Osteoporosis
Researchers understand how osteoporosis develops but they don’t know the exact cause of why it develops.
The bones are made of living, growing tissue. The inside of healthy bone looks like a sponge. This area is called trabecular bone. An outer shell of dense bone wraps around the spongy bone. This hard shell is called cortical bone.
When osteoporosis occurs, the “holes” in the “sponge” grow larger and more numerous, which weakens the inside of the bone. Bones support the body and protect vital organs. Bones also store calcium and other minerals.
When the body needs calcium, it breaks down and rebuilds bone. This process, called bone remodeling, supplies the body with needed calcium while keeping the bones strong.
Up until about age 30, you normally build more bone than you lose. After age 35, bone breakdown occurs faster than bone buildup, which causes a gradual loss of bone mass.
If you have osteoporosis, you lose bone mass at a greater rate. After menopause, the rate of bone breakdown occurs even more quickly.
When people are young, bone in their bodies is broken down and replaced continuously, a process known as bone remodeling. Bone mass usually peaks in a person’s mid to late 20s.
For women, the loss of bone density speeds up during the first 5 to 7 years after menopause and then slows down again. Scientists believe that’s because of a sharp decline in the body’s production of estrogen, which appears to help keep calcium in the bones.
Although some loss of bone density is a natural part of aging, you’re at higher risk for getting the very porous bones and fractures associated with osteoporosis if you:
- Are thin or have a small frame
- Smoke, drink more than moderately, or live a sedentary lifestyle
- Have a family history of hip fracture
- Had your ovaries removed, especially before age 40
- Are white or Asian
Certain medical conditions that increase bone breakdown, including kidney disease, Cushing’s syndrome, and an overactive thyroid or parathyroid, can also lead to osteoporosis. Glucocorticoids, also known as steroids, also increase bone loss. Anti-seizure drugs and long-term immobility because of paralysis or illness can also cause bone loss.
Risk Factors of Osteoporosis
The human body continually absorbs old bone tissue and generates new bone to maintain bone density, strength, and structural integrity.
Bone density peaks when a person is in their late 20s, and it starts to weaken at around 35 years of age. As a person grows older, bone breaks down faster than it rebuilds. Osteoporosis may develop if this breakdown occurs excessively.
It can affect both males and females, but it is most likely to occur in women after menopause because of the sudden decrease in estrogen. Estrogen normally protects women against osteoporosis.
The IOF advises that once people reach 50 years of age, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience fractures due to osteoporosis.
Unavoidable Factors
According to the American College of rheumatology, nonmodifiable risk factors include:
- Age: Risk increases after the mid-30s and especially after menopause.
- Reduced sex hormones: Lower estrogen levels appear to make it harder for bone to regenerate.
- Ethnicity: White people and Asian people have a higher risk than other ethnic groups.
- Height and weight: Being over 5 feet 7 inches tall or weighing under 125 pounds increases the risk.
- Genetic factors: Having a close family member with a diagnosis of hip fracture or osteoporosis makes osteoporosis more likely.
- Fracture history: A person over 50 years of age with previous fractures after a low-level injury is more likely to receive a diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Diet and Lifestyle Choices
Modifiable risk factors include:
- Inactivity
- Immobility
Weight bearing exercise helps prevent osteoporosis. It places controlled stress on the bones, which encourages bone growth.
Drugs and Health Conditions
Some diseases or medications cause changes in hormone levels, and some drugs reduce bone mass.
Diseases that affect hormone levels include hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, and Cushing’s syndrome.
A recent research study suggests that transgender women who receive hormone treatment (HT) may have an increased risk of osteoporosis. However, using anti-androgens for a year before starting HT may reduce this risk.
Transgender men do not appear to have a high risk of osteoporosis. However, scientists need to carry out more research to confirm these findings.
Medical conditions that increase the risk include:
- A shortage of estrogen or testosterone
- Cushing’s syndrome, an adrenal gland disorder
- Hyperthyroidism and hyperparathyroidism
- Pituitary gland disorders
- Problems with mineral absorption, such as celiac disease
- Some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
Medications that raise the risk include:
- Anticoagulants and blood-thinners, including heparin and warfarin
- Aromatase inhibitors and other treatments that deplete sex hormones, such as anastrozole, or Arimidex
- Certain immunosuppressant agents, such as cyclosporine, which increase both bone resorption and formation
- Glucocorticoids and corticosteroids, including prednisone and prednisolone
- Protein-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and other antacids that adversely affect mineral status
- Certain antidepressant medications
- Some vitamin A (retinoid) medications
- Thyroid hormone
- Thiazide diuretics
- Thiazolidinediones, used to treat type 2 diabetes, as these decrease bone formation
- some chemotherapeutic agents, including letrozole (Femara), used to treat breast cancer
and leuprorelin (Lupron) for prostate cancer and other conditions
Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is the most common type of osteoporosis that develops due to medication use.
Diagnosis of Osteoporosis
A doctor will consider family history and any risk factors. If they suspect osteoporosis, they will request a bone mineral density scan (BMD).
Bone density scanning uses a type of X-ray known as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
DEXA can indicate the risk of osteoporotic fractures. It can also help monitor a person’s response to treatment.
Two types of devices can carry out a DEXA scan:
- A central device: This is a hospital-based scan that measures hip and spine bone mineral density while the individual lies on a table.
- A peripheral device: This is a mobile machine that tests bone in the wrist, heel, or finger.
DEXA Test Results
Doctors give the results of the test as a DEXA T score or a Z score.
The T score compares an individual’s bone mass with the peak bone mass of a younger person.
- -1.0 or above shows good bone strength
- from -1.1 to -2.4 suggests mild bone loss (osteopenia)
- -2.5 or below indicates osteoporosis
The Z score compares the bone mass with that of other people of a similar build and age.
A doctor will typically repeat the test every 2 years as this allows them to compare results.
Other Tests
An ultrasound, scan of the heal bone is another method that doctors use for assessing osteoporosis, and they can carry it out in the primary care setting. It is less common than DEXA, and the doctors cannot compare the measurements against DEXA T scores.
Treatment of Osteoporosis
- Alendronate (Fosamax)
- Alendronate sodium (Binosto)
- Ibandronate (Boniva)
- Risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia)
- Zoledronic acid ( Reclast, Zometa)
Other drug options to protect against bone loss include:
- Raloxifene (Evista): an estrogen-like drug that helps increase bone density and reduces fracture risk.
- Romosozumab-aqqg (Evenity): an anti-sclerostin antibody that works to increase bone formation and reduce bone loss.
- Abaloparatide (Tymlos) and teriparatide (Forteo): a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone for patients with osteoporosis who are considered at high risk for fracture. These medications help build bone density.
- Denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva): an antibody that prevents the formation of cells that break down bone, resulting in less bone loss.
- Calcitonon: a naturally occurring hormone that helps prevent fracture and may help slow bone loss.
Complications of Osteoporosis
As bones become weaker, fractures occur more frequently, and, with age, they take longer to heal.
This can lead to ongoing pain and loss of stature as bones in the spine begin to collapse. Some people take a long time to recover from a broken hip, and others may no longer be able to live independently.
Fractures due to osteoporosis can interfere with daily activities such as bending, walking downstairs, or cooking. Prompt treatment, physical therapy, and your commitment to a healthy lifestyle can improve your well-being.
Prevention of Osteoporosis
An individual’s diet and lifestyle are two important risk factors they can control to prevent osteoporosis. Replacing lost estrogen with hormone therapy also provides a strong defense against osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Diet
To maintain strong, healthy bones, you need a diet rich in calcium throughout your life. One cup of skim or 1 percent fat milk contains 300 milligrams of calcium.
Besides dairy products, other good sources of calcium are salmon with bones, sardines, kale, broccoli, calcium-fortified juices and breads, dried figs, and calcium supplements. It is best to try to get the calcium from food and drink.
For those who need supplements, remember that the body can only absorb 500 mg of calcium at a time. You should take your calcium supplements in divided doses, since anything more than 500 mg will not be absorbed.
Calcium and Vitamin D Intake
Calcium is essential for bones. People should make sure they consume enough calcium daily.
Adults aged 19 years and above should consume 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day. Women who are over 51 years of age and all adults from 71 years onward should have a daily intake of 1,200 mg.
Dietary sources include:
- Dairy foods, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
- Fish with soft bones, such as tinned salmon and tuna
- Fortified breakfast cereals
- Leafy green vegetables, such as kale and broccoli are calcium enriched
If a person’s calcium intake is inadequate, supplements are an option.
Vitamin D also plays a key role in preventing osteoporosis as it helps the body absorb calcium. Dietary sources include fortified foods, saltwater fish, and liver.
However, most vitamin D does not come from food but from sun exposure, so doctors recommend moderate, regular exposure to sunlight.
Lifestyle Factors
Following are some of the other ways to minimize the risk of developing osteoporosis:
- Avoid smoking, as this can reduce the growth of new bone and decrease estrogen levels in women
- Exercise regularly to promote flexibility and balance, such as yoga, which can reduce the risk of falls and fractures
- Getting regular weight bearing exercise, such as walking, as this promotes healthy bones and strengthens their support from muscles
- Limiting alcohol intake to encourage healthy bones and prevent falls
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can reduce the degree of bone loss. Begin a regular exercise program. Exercises that make your muscles work against gravity (such as walking, jogging, aerobics, and weightlifting) are best for strengthening bones.
Do not drink too much alcohol. Do not have excessive amounts of caffeine. Don’t use tobacco at all.
Foods High in Estrogen
Generally, a plant-based diet is said to have more estrogen than other diets. However, much of the research on foods associated with high estrogen levels is hotly debated. Some scientists even believe that factors like ethnicity and location change the way our bodies receive estrogen.
While most of the foods listed below are confirmed to contain estrogen or phytoestrogen, remember that there are many opinions out there. There are also different ways your body receives either phytoestrogens, animal estrogen, a synthetic estrogen, or compounds that can trigger your body to produce more estrogen.
There are some cases where eating certain foods can result in a lower estrogen level in your body. Please make sure to consult with your doctor about your specific medical situation to learn about which types of estrogen or food is best for you to eat.
Following are the foods that are believed to increase estrogen levels in the body:
Dairy
There is a direct correlation between higher estrogen levels in eggs because eggs are produced in the animal’s ovaries. Ovaries are glands that process hormones. Similarly, full-fat milk can also contain more or less estrogen in it depending on where the animal is in the lactation cycle.
Nuts and Seeds
It’s almost indisputable to say that nuts and seeds are high in phytoestrogen. Which nuts and seeds are the highest, however, can be disputed. Some proven nuts and seeds with higher levels of phytoestrogen are:
- Brazil nuts
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Roasted salted peanuts
- Pine nuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Walnuts
- Sesame seeds
Legumes
Legumes are some of the most studied sources of phytoestrogens. They are also debated for the benefits and risks of how these phytoestrogens interact with our bodies. Some legumes that contain high counts of phytoestrogens are:
- Peas
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- Soybeans
- Lima beans
- Carob
- Kidney beans
- Mung beans
- Pinto beans
- Black-eyed peas
- Lentils
Fruits and Vegetables
Generally, berries and cruciferous vegetables are said to have high phytoestrogen levels. Following are some of the examples of these:
- Blueberry
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Cherry
- Cranberries
- Dates
- Garlic
- Onions
- Sprouts
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Zucchini
Grains
There has been a strong correlation between people who eat cereal and higher rates of phytoestrogens. It has been found that many of the grains typically used in cereals have higher rates of phytoestrogens. Some examples of these grains are:
- Barley
- Oats
- Rye
- Whole wheat
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.
Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.
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Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.
Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.
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Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.
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