Why is osteoporosis more commom in women than in men?
If I am remembering correctly osteoporosis is an auto immune disorder. It is somewhat related to rhuematiod arthritis. The immune system causes inflammation in and around the bone and chemical cytokines released by the immune cells (white blood cells) cause the degredation of the bone over time. This is more prevelent in post menopausal women. It could be due to the change in hormones that occurs during menopause or it may be that they have less calcium due to the amount that is lost during pregnancy. Men don’t get pregnant therefore don’t lose calcium to a foetus (babies are very parasitic!).
