Calcitonin plays a critical role in maintaining the balance between bone formation and resorption. It's a hormone that's produced in our thyroid gland. When released, it helps in reducing bone resorption, which is the process where our bones are broken down, and the minerals within them, like calcium, are released into the bloodstream. By doing this, calcitonin indirectly promotes bone formation by preventing bone loss. Therefore, it's essentially a protective mechanism to ensure our bones stay strong and healthy.
Bone Resorption: Causes, Signs, and How to Slow Bone Loss
Bone resorption is the process where your body breaks down old bone tissue and removes it. That’s normal when it’s balanced with new bone formation. Trouble starts when resorption outpaces rebuilding — you lose bone density, strength drops, and fracture risk goes up. You can’t always feel it early, but there are clear steps to catch it and slow it down.
What causes bone resorption?
Several things speed up bone breakdown. Menopause and lower estrogen are big drivers for women. Long-term use of steroids, certain anticonvulsants, or chemotherapy can do the same. Low calcium and vitamin D, heavy drinking, smoking, low physical activity, and certain medical conditions (like hyperthyroidism or inflammatory diseases) also play a role. Even dental infections and periodontal disease cause local bone loss around teeth — so bone resorption isn’t only about hips and spines.
On a cellular level, special cells called osteoclasts chew up bone. When signals tell osteoclasts to work harder than osteoblasts (the cells that build bone), net loss happens. That imbalance can be short-term (fracture healing) or long-term (osteoporosis).
How to slow or stop bone loss
First, get checked. If you’re a woman over 65, a man over 70, on long-term steroids, or have other risk factors, ask your doctor about a DEXA scan. That test measures bone density and helps decide treatment.
Fix the basics: eat enough calcium-rich foods (dairy, leafy greens, fortified products) and get reliable vitamin D — through safe sun, diet, or supplements after discussing doses with your provider. Move more: weight-bearing exercise (walking, stair-climbing, light resistance training) tells bone to stay strong. Aim for consistency rather than extremes; 20–30 minutes most days beats an intense weekend session.
Medications can make a big difference when loss is significant. Bisphosphonates (often first-line), denosumab, SERMs, and anabolic drugs like teriparatide are common options. Each has pros, side effects, and duration rules — discuss risks like digestive irritation, rare jaw bone problems after dental work, or rebound effects if stopped suddenly.
Don’t forget dental care. Periodontal disease causes bone loss around teeth; regular cleanings, treating infections promptly, and good home care protect both teeth and jawbone. If you’re starting or on bone drugs, tell your dentist before extractions or implants.
Watch for signs: sudden height loss, a dowager’s hump, or fractures from low-impact falls are red flags. But many people have no symptoms until a break happens — that’s why screening matters.
If you’re worried about bone resorption, talk with your doctor about testing and a plan. Small daily habits plus the right medical approach will slow loss, reduce fracture risk, and keep you moving longer.
