Bone resorption

The process by which old bone tissue is broken down and removed by special cells called osteoclasts. Bone resorption is very fast and any one spot takes only about three weeks to be removed. Any weight loss, for reasons that are not clear, causes increased bone loss as does excess stress, caffeine (in women with low calcium intakes) and colas (because the body uses calcium to help excrete the phosphoric acid colas contain). Bone resorption is normally in balance with bone formation. Increased calcium and vitamin D control resorption rates.