Nanomedicine for Treatment of Osteoporosis

Nanomedicine for the treatment of osteoporosis has been an area of interest in recent times, with scientists actively exploring viable treatment options in this field.

What causes osteoporosis and what are the risk factors?

The bad news is that all humans have a dormant risk of osteoporosis. This is partly because there are certain unchangeable factors that influence this risk. Since it depends on your bone mass, there’s not much we can do to address that end of it. We have little or no control over certain factors at the moment. For example:

- Osteoporosis is markedly more common in females than males.

- It’s also genetic, putting you at higher risk if there’s a family history of osteoporosis.

- The build of your body also can influence the risk of being affected by osteoporosis. A smaller frame could mean lesser bone mass, which increases the risk.

- Other factors like age and race also affect osteoporosis risk, and they are set in stone.

Causes

- Smoking and Tobacco consumption

- Excessive alcohol consumption

- Lack of exercise and consequently, fitness

- Calcium deficiency

Malnutrition and malabsorption. Whether it’s from a consistently unbalanced diet, or due to dietary ailments like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Bones need proper nutrients for healthy regeneration, and a deficit of these could significantly contribute to weaker bones. Vitamin D especially is crucial for the absorption of calcium into the body for stronger bones.

Hormonal factors: Certain hormones have an amount of control over our bone density. Low estrogen in females and testosterone in males can hamper regular bone development. Premature menopause in women can also contribute to osteoporosis, as can amenorrhea (lack of periods) in young women.

Inflammatory disorders can also be a major factor in causing osteoporosis. This applies to all forms, whether it’s arthritis or otherwise. Prolonged inflammation can damage the bones associated with the affected area. Bones also get worn down through lack of use. If a person is experiencing paralysis in an area, the bones may begin to atrophy after a prolonged period.

Hyperparathyroidism: In untreated hyperparathyroidism, the excessive parathyroid hormone causes too much calcium to be removed from the bone, which can lead to osteoporosis.

-Excessive usage of some medications can contribute to osteoporosis significantly. Drugs like corticosteroids and heparin can have a detrimental effect on bone development.

Symptoms Of Osteoporosis

There are no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you might have signs and symptoms that include:

- Constant pains and aches, especially in the dorsal region.

- Flaws in posture and general mobility.

- Fragile bones, leading to frequent hairline or severe fractures.

When to see a doctor:

When the symptoms start becoming prominent and problematic, it’s best to consult your doctor. Keep the doctor informed of all possible factors that could play a part in osteoporosis. This includes family history and any current medication you may be taking.

Diagnosis:

As with any bone issue, the primary way to diagnose osteoporosis is through an X-ray. By taking a DXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan) of your hip, spine, and forearm, a precise diagnosis can be arrived at, based on statistical analysis.

By comparing the density of your bone to the average bone density for people around the same age group, we can arrive at a T-score. This is a measure of how much an individual bone density deviates from the norm (standard deviation). A T-score value of -2.5 or below, is a sign of osteoporosis. This test is recommended for people with a high risk of osteoporosis, like women who are around the age of 65.

Treatment

The steps towards combating osteoporosis involve increasing bone density and averting any possible injury. This is majorly possible through two methods:

Lifestyle changes: Basically, this involves making responsible decisions that could go a long way in fixing your bone density. Quit smoking and drinking, eat a calcium and vitamin D-rich diet, and stay fit. Search and try out natural remedies for joint pain. Help your body out!

Medication: Drugs that help increase bone strength will be prescribed, such as

calcitonin. As a supplement, bone formation drugs may also be prescribed, such as teriparatide.

Prevention

Good protein intake can help supplement bone growth and density. However, there's conflicting evidence about the impact of protein intake on bone density.

Body Weight:

Being underweight increases the chance of bone loss and fractures. Being overweight can also increase the stress on your bones. As such, maintaining optimum body weight is crucial.

Nanomedicine for the treatment of osteoporosis primarily focuses on stimulating the growth of bone-forming cells using nanotechnology. However, more methods are being researched.

Treatment At Nanolife

NANOCUR is NanoLife’s answer to this disorder.

NANOCUR is made up of gold nanoparticles and natural compounds like Curcuma longa.

Curcumin works well as an anti-inflammatory agent to effectively offer a boost for bone and joint health. Therefore, it plays a significant role as part of natural remedies for joint pain.

Daily intake of NanoCur helps in building healthy bones and joints. NanoCur has the potential to relieve inflammation pains and build on worn-down cartilage, thereby restoring and promoting healthy joints.