Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and sarcopenia

Abstract

With the increase in human life expectancy and the advent of an aging society, the prevalence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, as age-accelerating diseases, has been increasing year by year, creating a heavy burden on society. Osteoporosis and sarcopenia have multiple etiologies, including genetic, metabolic, lifestyle, and exercise variables. Moreover, poor nutritional status, including insufficient consumption of calcium, vitamin D, and protein, as well as decreased physical activity, are major risk factors for sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis and sarcopenia raise chances of fractures and falls, affects exercise capacity, reduces quality of life, and directly or indirectly affects the life expectancy of the population. Adequate nutritional supplementation and physical activity are the main strategies for preventing and delaying osteoporosis and sarcopenia, in addition to pharmacological interventions that are thought to be potentially beneficial. This review provides the progress of epidemiologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic studies of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, and provides some reference value for further research.