How Does Osteoporosis Differ From Osteomalacia ?

Osteoporosis differs from osteomalacia in several aspects. Osteoporosis is a disease in which there is a decrease bone density; meaning that for a particular volume of bone there is too little calcium and phosphorous in bones due to which the bones becomes fragile and porous. In osteomalacia, however, the amount of bone density or mass may be normal, but there is little mineral in bone.

Osteoporosis is an asymptomatic disease until there is a fracture while there are usually symptoms with osteomalacia like aches and pain in lumbar (lower back) regions and thighs, spreading later to arms and ribs. The treatment for osteoporosis and osteomalacia differ significantly.

Many symptoms of osteomalacis overlap with the common form of osteoporosis, but the two diseases are significantly different. In osteoporosis bones becomes extremely porous due to excessive loss of protein and minerals content, particularly calcium from the body and is characterized by bone mass reduction and bone strength as a result bones becomes extremely weak and fragile. The disorder often a silent one and is discovered only after a fractures. Osteoporosis mostly occurs in older people, over the age of 60 and in women after menopause. Whereas in osteomalacia, the bones get weak and soft from loss of calcium and phosphorous. The volume of bone matrix does not change. Osteomalacia is specifically a defect in mineralization of the protein framework known as osteoid. This defective mineralization is mainly caused due to lack of vitamin D.

Osteomalacia is a disease occurring mostly in adult women who have a deficiency of vitamin D and calcium and is characterized by softening of bones with accompanying pain and weakness.