Metabolic Bone Disease

Abstract

Metabolic diseases of bone cause disruption of normal bone formation, remodelling, mineralization or some combination of these. In this chapter, four such conditions are discussed: vitamin D deficiency disease (rickets, osteomalacia), vitamin C deficiency disease (scurvy), osteoporosis and Paget's disease of bone. These conditions are selected because the first two are sensitive indicators of past lifeways and diet and, hence, form important tools in biocultural studies of past populations; and the latter two are the most important metabolic diseases of bone today, are poorly understood, and palaeopathological study has the potential to increase our knowledge of them. For each condition, the pathophysiology of the disease is described, issues in palaeopathological diagnosis are considered and themes in its biocultural study in past populations are discussed. Finally, problems and potential for the future palaeopathological diagnosis and biocultural understanding of these conditions are considered.

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