الفهرس 
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Abstract
Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterised by a decreased bone mass and reduction in mechanical properties. Osteoporotic fractures and related health problems and costs represent a significant and growing problem. An increase in age-adjusted incidence of all fragility fractures, hip, vertebral, and radius, has been seen in Western World. The projected costs of osteoporotic fractures in white postmenopausal women during the next 10 years in the United States alone is estimated at more than $ 45 billion (164).
Osteoporosis is characterised by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to enhanced bone fragility, and increased fracture risk. The World Health Organization (165) has defined osteoporosis on the basis of BMD measurements obtained on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) as a T-score of greater than 2.5 standard deviations below the mean for normals, who are young healthy individuals at their peak bone mass. A low BMD is associated with increased fracture risk. Low bone density may be secondary to failure to achieve optimal bone mass, bone loss caused by increased bone resorption, and inadequate replacement of lost bone as a result of decreased bone formation.