Calcium is the mainstay of treatment but, used alone, it only slows the rate of bone resorption.
One way of improving its effect is to combine calcium with fluoride in large doses and this treatment seems to lead to active bone replacement.
The calcium and fluoride can be given by mouth and injections are not necessary.
One way of determining the extent of the thinning and also of measuring the response to treatment, is to X-ray the head of the femur and to note the crossing lines of bone known as trabeculae. These decrease in number as the bone thins.
The degree of osteoporosis can be measured by taking X-rays of the bones.
Osteomalacia is a similar disorder of bone, where the protein matrix is laid down as normal but there is a reduction in the deposition of calcium salts.
This leads to softening of the bone, so that it may bend and show deformities.
Osteomalacia is the adult form of rickets.
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