Home » Osteoporosis, Osteopenia

Osteoporosis, Osteopenia

The Bone Health Panel: Osteoporosis, Osteopenia

The best approach to osteoporosis is prevention, especially in patients who are high risk.  If you are at a high risk for developing osteoporosis, there are two ways to assess your risk.

  • Bone density measurement using radioactive or x-ray sources to measure your bone strength and mineral content.
  • Urine testing to assess the rate of bone breakdown in your body.

Boulder Natural Health offers the Pyrilinks-D (DPD) urine test to assess bone breakdown in combination with a saliva test that measures hormone levels of estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, FSH, testosterone and cortisol.  We offer natural solutions to treat osteopenia and osteoporosis.  Contact us today to find out more information on natural treatments to improve bone density and optimize bone health.

Your risk for osteoporosis increases with:

  • Age
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Fair complexion
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Family history of osteoporosis
  • The onset of menopause
  • Thyroid disease
  • Diabetes
  • Adrenal imbalance
  • Kidney disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Uses for the Bone Health Panel

  • Screen for osteoporosis in conjunction with bone density testing.
  • As a way to monitor bone density response to treatment and assess the rate of bone loss or the rate of bone improvement.

Hormones Tested

  • Estrogen: Prevents bone loss in adults.
 After menopause, very small amounts, if any, estrogens are secreted by the ovaries.  Low estrogen levels cause diminished bone deposition.  Low estrogen levels increase the number and activity of osteoclasts.
  • Progesterone: Promotes new bone formation and deposition.
  • Testosterone: Helps reduce bone loss, and has a role in bone formation.
  • Cortisol: Glucocorticoids directly inhibit bone formation by decreasing cell proliferation and the synthesis of DNA, protein and collagen.  Glucocorticoid-induced bone loss results from lower activity and higher death rate of osteoblasts on one hand, and from increased bone resorption due to prolonged life span of osteoclasts on the other.
 Glucocorticoids may potentiate the proresorptive actions of parathyroid hormone and Vitamin D on bone, which contribute to net bone resorption.
  • FSH: Bone loss during or after menopause has been attributed to a drop in estrogen levels. Recent studies show that high FSH is required for hypogonadal bone loss.  In early menopause, FSH levels show a sevenfold increase over values found in young menstruating women.  In perimenopause and postmenopause, FSH is correlated with bone loss and osteoporosis, sleep disturbances, hot flashes and night sweats.
  • DHEA/DHEA-S: Enhances bone deposition and remodeling.  Decreases bone resorption and increases bone formation.
  • DPD: Type I collagen degradation by-product— a marker for bone resorption.

© 2010 All Rights Reserved, DiagnosTechs, Inc.

Contact Us About This Test!

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about our lab testing. Call our office today at 303-960-3920 and set up a free 15 minute consult to learn more about our lab testing. Or you can email us by filling out the form below.