Osteoporosis and Arthritis: What You Need to Know

While arthritis impacts your joints, osteoporosis is a condition that impacts your bones. It causes bones to become weak, brittle, and break more easily. And it’s common: Osteoporosis is thought to affect more than 200 million people across the globe. 

If you’re living with arthritis, chances are you’re already taking steps to protect your joints. But here’s why you should also find ways to preserve your bone health. 

The Link Between Osteoporosis and Arthritis

Arthritis is a broad term that covers more than 100 conditions and causes symptoms like joint pain and stiffness. More than 350 million people have arthritis worldwide. It is one of the leading causes of disability.  

It seems especially unfair when having one chronic illness puts you at greater risk of another. But that seems to be the case with arthritis and osteoporosis, which “may coexist in the same patient,” says Nilanjana Bose, MD, a rheumatologist at Lonestar Rheumatology in Houston.  The exact link between the conditions varies based on arthritis type. 

Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is characterized by “wear and tear” on the joints and surrounding cartilage. The relationship between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis has been studied for decades, and there’s a lot we still don’t fully understand. 

When it comes to the onset of these two conditions, some research has found that osteoarthritis and osteoporosis may share certain biomarkers or indicators that contribute to both conditions. Though more studies are needed to fully understand this link.   

When it comes to impact, both conditions can take a similar toll: Research suggests that osteoporosis and osteoarthritis can lead to increased pain, disruptions in social life, and an overall reduced quality of life.  

Severity may also play a role: Research shows that more severe cases of osteoarthritis that come with limited mobility along with increased pain may accelerate bone loss and lead to osteoporosis. 

Osteoporosis and Inflammatory Arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis is another common type of arthritis. It occurs when an overactive immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joints. This includes conditions such as:

• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) 
• Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) 
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 

Osteoporosis is thought to occur in patients with ankylosing spondylitis for a variety of reasons, according to a recent study in Frontiers in Medicine. This includes limited spinal mobility, increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, physical inactivity, and malabsorption for patients who also have inflammatory bowel disease.  

Complicating the risk in this population is that traditional ways of measuring bone loss, such as bone density scans, are less reliable in people with AS. This is because patients with AS get more calcium deposits in more places in their spine that can make DEXA [the type of X-ray scan used for bone density screening] uninterpretable.  

While more research is needed, the same trinity of risk factors applies to those with PsA, RA, and SLE: 

• Chronic inflammation: People with chronic inflammatory diseases often have systemic inflammation, which is associated with generalized bone loss. 
• Corticosteroid drug use: One of the biggest reasons someone with inflammatory arthritis is at a higher risk of osteoporosis is taking corticosteroid medication to manage symptoms. With RA in particular, research has found that the combination of inflammation, along with corticosteroid medications (which are often used to control a flare), can negatively impact bone mineral density, increasing the risk of bone fracture and osteoporosis.  
• Inactivity: Inflammatory arthritis can cause pain, fatigue, and stiffness, which can make regular exercise a challenge.   

In addition, both rheumatoid arthritis and SLE are both more common in women who have the greatest risk for osteoporosis — 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 years (versus 1 in 5 men) will experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime. 

Osteoporosis Risk Factors

Arthritis itself can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. But other risk factors may also play a role in the development of osteoporosis. These can be broken into two groups: uncontrollable and controllable risk factors.  

By familiarizing yourself with the many risk factors tied to osteoporosis, you can have an informed conversation with your health care provider about your personal risks and what you can do to better protect your bones.  

Uncontrollable risk factors for osteoporosis include:  

• Gender: Osteoporosis is more common in women, especially in premenopausal women. 
• Ethnicity: Osteoporosis is more common in Caucasian and Asian women. 
• Age: The older you get, the higher your risk of developing osteoporosis. 
• Family history: If an immediate family member (like a parent) has osteoporosis, your risk of developing the condition increases. 

Controllable risk factors, or those you can modify, include:  

• Medications: Long-term use of steroids or anticonvulsants can contribute to osteoporosis. 
• Diet: Low calcium and vitamin D intake may contribute to osteoporosis risk. 
• Inactivity: Not exercising regularly, or being inactive, can weaken your bones. 
• Weight: Being underweight (or having a small body frame) can impact bone health. 
• Smoking: Smoking cigarettes makes you more prone to osteoporosis and bone fractures.  
• Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption impacts how the body absorbs calcium and vitamin D, both of which are critical for healthy bone development. 

Osteoporosis Symptoms

Osteoporosis is sometimes referred to as a “silent” condition. That’s because it often has no symptoms.  

As it progresses, it can lead to symptoms like  

• Back pain 
• Sudden back pain  
• Joint pain 
• Changes in posture 
• Stooping or loss of height 

But most people don’t realize they have osteoporosis until they fracture or break a bone. That’s why it’s so important to learn about osteoporosis and take steps to protect your bones. 

Tips to Manage Arthritis and Protect Your Bones

“Leading an active, healthy lifestyle can help both manage arthritis and protect your bones,” says Bose. Start with these strategies.  

Eat a Healthy, Nutritious Diet

While there’s no one diet to promote bone and joint health, aim to eat a well-balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables, fish and lean protein, and dairy. Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are particularly important, as they’re good sources of calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients work together to help improve joint function, build muscle around joints, and preserve bone strength, says Bose.  

For optimal bone health, women ages 50 and under and men ages 70 and under should aim to get 1,000 mg of calcium each day and increase intake to 1,200 mg each day once women reach age 51 and men reach age 71. The recommended vitamin D intake is 400-800 IU a day for most adults under age 50, and 800-1,000 IU a day for those 50 and up.

Try to focus on getting calcium and vitamin D through your diet. Research shows that, as compared to getting these nutrients from food sources, supplementation may not provide the same protective benefits when it comes to preventing bone fracture.   

Stay Active

Staying active is a mainstay for managing most types of arthritis, whether you live with a wear-and-tear type like osteoarthritis or an inflammatory type like psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis. It can also help improve balance and reduce fall risk, and help your body absorb calcium and vitamin D, explains Bose. Try to focus on low-impact exercises that are easy on the joints, she advises. Here are a few exercises to avoid if you have osteoporosis.

While incorporating a mix of activities into your workout plan is best to promote overall health, when it comes to bone health, weight-bearing activities are especially important. Research has found that resistance exercises in particular, such as strength training, can help preserve both bone and muscle mass.   

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight can tax joints affected by arthritis. Being underweight can weaken bone health and increase your risk of osteoporosis. Aim to reach and maintain a healthy weight for optimal joint and bone health.  

Though if you need to lose weight, proceed with caution. Research has shown that implementing a low-calorie diet for weight loss can decrease bone mass, depending on a person’s age. Though the long-term effects that weight loss may have on bone health are not fully understood. Other research has found that the benefits weight loss can have on your overall health may outweigh the risks of lowered bone mineral density.  

Quit Smoking  

Smoking is bad for your overall health on many levels — including bone health and joint health. Smoking boosts inflammation, which can make your arthritis worse, and can contribute to weakened bones and increase fracture risk. What’s more, many people who smoke also partake in other habits that affect bone and joint health, like decreased activity levels and poor diet.  

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. Findings from one study show that quitting may help increase bone mass previously lost due to smoking. Ask your doctor if you need help with quitting. You may benefit from the use of a smoking cessation aid.    

Moderate Alcohol Use

Research shows that chronic, excessive alcohol consumption increases osteoporosis risk. Heavy drinking has also been linked with a decrease in bone density and weakened bones. In addition, since alcohol has lots of calories, drinking can make it more difficult to achieve other goals that promote good bone and joint health: building muscle mass, reducing body fat, and losing weight. 

If you do drink, be sure to so in moderation. That means two drinks or less in a day for men and one drink or less in a day for women. 

When to Talk to Your Doctor About Bone Health

“It’s never too early to talk about bone health,” says Bose. “Being proactive is key — the sooner you can talk to your doctor, the better.”  

Because there are often no symptoms of osteoporosis until a bone breaks, routine screening can help prevent osteoporosis. Screening is easy and only takes five to 10 minutes. Early detection can help you take proper steps to prevent fractures and promote bone health.  

Routine screening for osteoporosis should be done:   

• After age 65 for women, 70 for men, or sooner depending on your personal risk factors 
• Every one to two years, or more often depending on your health  
• After a bone fracture in those over age 50 
• When taking new medication associated with low bone mass or bone loss 

Talk to your doctor at your next health exam about getting screened for osteoporosis.   

This article is part of the “Building Better Bones” project and was made possible with support from Amgen.