Bone is a metabolically active tissue that undergoes continuous regeneration,
which provides the skeleton its regenerative and functional adaptation capacity.
Although there have been significant advances in the understanding of the mechanism
remodelling process in recent years, there is still much to learn on many aspects. The
regulation of bone remodelling is a complex process that it integrates different stimuli
such as mechanical factors, hormones, cytokines and growth factors. In younger
individuals, the bone mass remains practically unchanged, while menopause, aging and
some diseases alter bone balance. The main effect of menopause on the skeleton is
increased bone resorption resulting in bone loss, which also influences the decrease in
intestinal and renal absorption of calcium. The estrogen deficiency plays an important
role in the changes of bone mass and calcium metabolism. The bone loss begins in the
perimenopausal period but persist until the end of life and it is the main cause of
osteoporotic fractures in older women.
Keywords: Menopause, bone remodelling, bone mass, osteoporosis, osteoporotic
fractures, osteoblast, osteoclast, osteocyte, bone turnover markers, estrogen,
aging.
