Postmenopausal women become victims since after menopause, their body's production of sex hormones, especially estrogen, declines. Estrogen seems to slow down the process of bone destruction. Bone formation goes on until the age of 25 years. In young adulthood the skeleton remains in a steady state. The actual weakening of bones begins after the age of 35 years.
Bone loss begins earlier in women than in men and speeds up after menopause.
Low initial bone mass and early onset of bone loss in younger years will lead to eventual osteoporosis. As bones become lighter, they become susceptible to fractures and healing is slower because the body cannot form new bone. For these functions, calcium is constantly required in the blood steam at relatively steady levels. If enough calcium is unavailable from food sources, this mineral is removed from the skeleton to enter the blood stream. This constant drainage of calcium can lead to osteoporosis.