Although the Government has shown its commitment to addressing the problems posed by osteoporosis in its strategy to prevent and tackle osteoporosis and in its support of the Royal College of Physicians' Guidelines, there is little general awareness of the particular problems posed by osteoporosis associated with liver disease. In addition, there has previously been no agreement on how to manage osteoporosis in patients with chronic liver disease. To address this issue, the British Liver Trust and the British Association for the Study of the Liver organised a multidisciplinary workshop in December 1999 during which management guidelines were drawn up. These are currently being finalised. Osteoporosis literally means 'porous bones' and is the result of a reduction in bone density.
Bone is alive and constantly changing.
Old, worn out bone is broken down by cells called osteoclasts and replaced by bone building cells called osteoblasts. This process of renewal is called bone turnover. Up to the age of around 35 a balance between bone breakdown and new bone formation means that bone density stays stable. After this age bone loss increases as part of the ageing process. This can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fracture.