Information for Medical Professionals

Protein loss could be main cause of osteoporosis

Age-related protein loss could be the major cause of osteoporosis - not protein deficiency as was previously thought.

According to the researchers behind the new paper, which was published in Cell Metabolism, the study has "turned a page" in the understanding of osteoporosis and its underlying causes.

Stavros Manolagas, an endocrinology expert and co-author of the study, said: "This emerging evidence provides a paradigm shift from the 'oestrogen-centric' view of what causes osteoporosis to one in which these age-related mechanisms are the main protagonists and other changes - including the reduction of oestrogen - accentuate them."

The lack of ability of ageing bodies to defend against oxidative stress is deemed to be the most significant factor in the development of osteoporosis, along with other conditions such as hardening of the arteries, stroke and Parkinson's.

In particular, a specific family of proteins has been identified in mice models which defend against oxidative stress, and when these were removed from young subjects bone weakness increased.

Meanwhile, recent research published in Nature highlighted that a drug which limits serotonin production in the gut could be used to tackle osteoporosis development.

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