Advanced age and being a postmenopausal white female are the predominant risk factors. The role of dietary calcium in the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis is not clear. Calcium may ameliorate or prevent only bone loss directly related to calcium deficiency, but not bone loss due to other causes. Calcium deficiency, however, is common in women. Most bone loss is influenced by hormonal deficiencies.
Evidence suggests that exercise helps reduce bone loss.
However, too much exercise can be counterproductive for women, because it may lower estrogen levels. At this time, the most effective treatment of osteoporosis is prevention. The stronger the bones are when people are young, the less likely they are to fracture easily later in life. Other treatments, such as calcitonin therapy, may help if estrogen replacement is not advisable for health reasons. In some persons, osteoporosis cannot be prevented, but steps can be taken to slow bone loss as much as possible.