Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe LinkRisksTreatment & ManagementPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Link
Risks
Treatment & Management
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Because of how thyroid hormone impacts bone turnover (bone breakdown and new bone growth), people withhyperthyroidismhave an increased risk of gettingosteoporosisand more severe osteoporotic disease.
Read on to learn more about how hyperthyroidism affects bone loss and how you can manage both conditions simultaneously.
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Connection Between Hyperthyroidism and Osteoporosis
Elevated thyroid hormone activity (hyperthyroidism) increases your risk of osteoporosis, a condition that causes a loss in bone mass and increases the risk of fractures. This is also true for underlying conditions thatcause hyperthyroidism, includingthe immune system condition Graves' disease,thyroid adenoma(a benign thyroid cyst), and others.
Elevated levels of thyroid hormone seem to increase the rates at which bone is destroyed and decrease the rates at which it is rebuilt.Not surprisingly, this can lead to the reduced bone mass seen in osteoporosis.
Low levels of another hormone, calledthyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), also seem to increase bone breakdown. Since TSH is usually low in people with hyperthyroidism, it may also account for increased osteoporosis risk.
Many studies have shown that people with untreated hyperthyroidism have significantly decreasedbone density. Moreover, they have an increased risk of breaking bones, such as afracture to the hip. This risk increases with age, just as it does for people with osteoporosis without hyperthyroidism.
Severe hyperthyroidism poses a more significantrisk of osteoporosisthan mild hyperthyroidism. But even people with subclinical hyperthyroidism (normal thyroid hormone levels but abnormally low TSH) may have an increased risk.
However, your risk of osteoporosis from hyperthyroidism varies and depends on other risk factors you may have for osteoporosis. For example, a young person assigned male at birth with hyperthyroidism but no other risk factors for osteoporosis is unlikely to have issues.
However, incidence increases in people with other factors that contribute to osteoporosis, such as people of older age, individuals assigned female at birth, and people with a history of smoking, your risk becomes greater.Hyperthyroidism is just one potential risk factor for osteoporosis that you and your healthcare provider should consider.
Additionally, hyperthyroidism might make your osteoporosis more severe.
Treatment Lowers RiskIf you previously had hyperthyroidism, you may still have a slightly increased risk of osteoporosis, even if it has been successfully treated.However, the most significant risk is for those with untreated hyperthyroidism.
Treatment Lowers Risk
If you previously had hyperthyroidism, you may still have a slightly increased risk of osteoporosis, even if it has been successfully treated.However, the most significant risk is for those with untreated hyperthyroidism.
Treatment and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Osteoporosis
The good news is that treating hyperthyroidism may bring your rate of bone loss back to your baseline, even if you don’t use any othertreatments for osteoporosis. Once your hyperthyroidism is treated and under control, your osteoporosis risk reduces.
However, depending on the severity of the condition(s), the underlying cause(s), age, and other health conditions, you may also need to treat osteoporosis. This may include medication to help strengthen bones. Speak to your healthcare provider to determine a treatment plan.
What to Know About Hyperthyroidism Treatment
Monitoring
In some cases, having hyperthyroidism might mean you’ll need additional testing and monitory for osteoporosis. For instance, because hyperthyroidism increases your overall risk of osteoporosis, you might need to getbone mineral testsat an earlier age compared to people without hyperthyroidism.
Most women without risk factors for osteoporosis do not need bone mineral density testing until age 65, whereas people with hyperthyroidism often require testing at an earlier age.
If you have hyperthyroidism or have had it in the past, you can take steps toprevent osteoporosisin the future, even if you aren’t at risk right now. Building your bone mass at a younger age can help prevent issues as you get older. The following can help you maintain your bone mass as osteoporosis becomes a more serious risk.
Summary
Those with hyperthyroidism tend to have a faster bone breakdown and slower bone regrowth than those without the condition. Over time, this increases the risk for osteoporosis, especially in older individuals who are already at a higher risk.
Hyperthyroidism doesn’t guarantee you’ll get osteoporosis; it’s just one of several factors that can increase your risk.
Treating hyperthyroidism itself can help you lower your risk of osteoporosis. But you can make other lifestyle choices to help prevent osteoporosis, too, like getting enough calcium and vitamin D and limiting your intake of alcohol.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNo. Osteoporosis is a common condition in older adults, more common than hyperthyroidism. Most people who have osteoporosis do not, and will never have, hyperthyroidism.Currently, scientists don’t have clear evidence that hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid causing low thyroid levels) increases your risk of osteoporosis.However, receiving too much replacement thyroid hormone might increase your risk.Learn MoreSymptoms of Hypothyroidism
No. Osteoporosis is a common condition in older adults, more common than hyperthyroidism. Most people who have osteoporosis do not, and will never have, hyperthyroidism.
Currently, scientists don’t have clear evidence that hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid causing low thyroid levels) increases your risk of osteoporosis.However, receiving too much replacement thyroid hormone might increase your risk.Learn MoreSymptoms of Hypothyroidism
Currently, scientists don’t have clear evidence that hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid causing low thyroid levels) increases your risk of osteoporosis.However, receiving too much replacement thyroid hormone might increase your risk.
Learn MoreSymptoms of Hypothyroidism
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Delitala AP, Scuteri A, Doria C.Thyroid hormone diseases and osteoporosis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1034. doi:10.3390/jcm9041034Williams GR, Bassett JHD.Thyroid diseases and bone health.J Endocrinol Invest. 2018;41(1):99-109. doi:10.1007/s40618-017-0753-4Kim SM, Ryu V, Miyashita S, et al.Thyrotropin, hyperthyroidism, and bone mass.J ClinEndocrinol Metab. 2021;106(12):e4809-e4821. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab548Mirza F, Canalis E.Management of Endocrine Disease: secondary osteoporosis: pathophysiology and management.Eur J Endocrinol. 2015;173(3):R131-51. doi:10.1530/EJE-15-0118Cosman F, de Beur SJ, LeBoff MS, et al.Clinician’s guide to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.Osteoporos Int. 2014;25(10):2359-81. doi:10.1007/s00198-014-2794-2National Institute on Aging.Osteoporosis.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Delitala AP, Scuteri A, Doria C.Thyroid hormone diseases and osteoporosis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1034. doi:10.3390/jcm9041034Williams GR, Bassett JHD.Thyroid diseases and bone health.J Endocrinol Invest. 2018;41(1):99-109. doi:10.1007/s40618-017-0753-4Kim SM, Ryu V, Miyashita S, et al.Thyrotropin, hyperthyroidism, and bone mass.J ClinEndocrinol Metab. 2021;106(12):e4809-e4821. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab548Mirza F, Canalis E.Management of Endocrine Disease: secondary osteoporosis: pathophysiology and management.Eur J Endocrinol. 2015;173(3):R131-51. doi:10.1530/EJE-15-0118Cosman F, de Beur SJ, LeBoff MS, et al.Clinician’s guide to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.Osteoporos Int. 2014;25(10):2359-81. doi:10.1007/s00198-014-2794-2National Institute on Aging.Osteoporosis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Delitala AP, Scuteri A, Doria C.Thyroid hormone diseases and osteoporosis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1034. doi:10.3390/jcm9041034Williams GR, Bassett JHD.Thyroid diseases and bone health.J Endocrinol Invest. 2018;41(1):99-109. doi:10.1007/s40618-017-0753-4Kim SM, Ryu V, Miyashita S, et al.Thyrotropin, hyperthyroidism, and bone mass.J ClinEndocrinol Metab. 2021;106(12):e4809-e4821. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab548Mirza F, Canalis E.Management of Endocrine Disease: secondary osteoporosis: pathophysiology and management.Eur J Endocrinol. 2015;173(3):R131-51. doi:10.1530/EJE-15-0118Cosman F, de Beur SJ, LeBoff MS, et al.Clinician’s guide to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.Osteoporos Int. 2014;25(10):2359-81. doi:10.1007/s00198-014-2794-2National Institute on Aging.Osteoporosis.
Delitala AP, Scuteri A, Doria C.Thyroid hormone diseases and osteoporosis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1034. doi:10.3390/jcm9041034
Williams GR, Bassett JHD.Thyroid diseases and bone health.J Endocrinol Invest. 2018;41(1):99-109. doi:10.1007/s40618-017-0753-4
Kim SM, Ryu V, Miyashita S, et al.Thyrotropin, hyperthyroidism, and bone mass.J ClinEndocrinol Metab. 2021;106(12):e4809-e4821. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab548
Mirza F, Canalis E.Management of Endocrine Disease: secondary osteoporosis: pathophysiology and management.Eur J Endocrinol. 2015;173(3):R131-51. doi:10.1530/EJE-15-0118
Cosman F, de Beur SJ, LeBoff MS, et al.Clinician’s guide to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.Osteoporos Int. 2014;25(10):2359-81. doi:10.1007/s00198-014-2794-2
National Institute on Aging.Osteoporosis.
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