First, an explanation of how our bones are built. They consist of two basic building blocks:
A special fabric (matrix) that gives them shape and stability.
Various minerals that are embedded in the matrix. These include above all calcium and phosphate, which ensure that the bone structure is compacted and strengthened.
Bones must be extremely strong and stable on the one hand, but also elastic and flexible on the other. Bone metabolism is a very complex and highly sensitive process. The bones in the human body are undergoing a constant transformation. Continuous build-up and degradation processes take place. Osteoblasts are responsible for bone build-up and osteoclasts for degradation. Up to about 35 years of age, more bone mass is predominantly built-up than degraded. Afterwards a change takes place and the degradation process accelerates with increasing age.
In people affected by osteoporosis, bone resorption predominates, which leads to cavities in the bone. These cannot be sufficiently replenished and bone density decreases.