To Visit Sponsor Osteoporosis Overview Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist. Men as well as women suffer from osteoporosis, a disease that can be prevented and treated. One out of every two women and one in eight men over 50 will have an steoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. More than 2 million American men suffer from osteoporosis, and millions more are at risk.
Osteoporosis can strike at any age.
Bone is living, growing tissue. It is made mostly of collagen, a protein that provides a soft framework, and calcium phosphate, a mineral that adds strength and hardens the framework. This combination of collagen and calcium makes bone strong yet flexible to withstand stress. During childhood and teenage years, new bone is added faster than old bone is removed. As a result, bones become larger, heavier, and denser.