Is Getting a Bone Density Scan Enough? Bone density versus bone quality

Why are there some people with extremely low bone density who never sustain a fracture and others with dense bones who experience bone fractures? There are many reasons that can put one at risk for a fracture and relying only on the scores of a bone density scan can be a false security – mainly because having osteoporosis may or may not lead to breaking a bone. Denser bone is not always stronger bone.
Bone health is an involved system, and bone strength or resistant to fracture is not easily measured by routine bone density tests. The quality of the bone is as important as bone quantity (density) when considering a person’s risk for a fracture. Nutrition and lifestyle can have a huge effect on bone quality and quantity by impacting the remodeling system, mineralization, and flexibility of the bone.
The body is always trying to remodel, repair, and renew the skeletal bone. Inside the skeleton there are special bone cells with the job to break down worn and weakened bone, while other special bone cells replace and build new bone. Bone density is the interaction between these two bone cells. The system fails when the breakdown activity is ramped up during a time when build up activity goes down, specifically with age and times of inflammation. In other words, breaking down bone is occurring faster or at a higher rate than bone is building up.
Mineralization is the process of laying down minerals into the bone and is essential for giving bone its hardness and strength. Bones serve as a storage place of important minerals for the body such as dissolved calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. When the body needs these minerals, it will draw the mineral from the bone. If this process is not regulated in such as too much or too little of minerals, then bone health is compromised resulting in the bone being too soft or too brittle.
The protein structure called the collagen matrix gives bones flexibility. About 90 percent of the bone matrix proteins are collagen structures to provide the flexibility. Mature bone is composed of protein and minerals and both give the bone its quality.
It is important to note that bone health is not the individual work of the three parts, but how they collectively work together as a whole complimentary system to provide healthy bones, which creates bone density and bone quality. For example, in a high calcium dense bone with reduced collagen will break with only slight pressure, and for this reason measuring bone density is not adequate for predicting fractures.
Bone density is the only measurement being done today to assess fracture risk; there is no way to measure bone quality and flexibility. Applying the information about healthy bones requires the understanding not only how nutrition plays a huge role in bone health, but also how one’s overall health can impact bone quality.
A proper food plan will provide the body with specific vitamins, minerals and protein to support mineralization and bone flexibility. The importance of a healthy digestive system to be able to absorb the nutrients; along with keeping inflammation low in the body all must be in balance to safeguard proper bone health and lower fracture risk.
To schedule an appointment to discuss ways to decrease your fracture risk please call Compassionate Healthcare Associates at 661-295-7777.