Porotic hyperostosis

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Porotic hyperostosis, also known as osteoporosis symmetrica, is a disease that causes bone tissue to appear spongy[1] and become soft. In the disease, the spongy marrow within the bones of the skull becomes overgrown.[2] The overgrowth of the skull's marrow may cause the outer table of the bones to move and become thinner.[3] It is widely accepted that the disease is related anemia, probably due to an iron deficiency.[4] Frequently, the cause of the anemia is thought to be malnutrition.[4] One study found that in precolumbian populations in the American Southwest, populations with diets rich in iron had a much lower incidence of porotic hyperostosis than did those with diets poor in iron.[5]

In anthropology, presence of the condition is used by researchers to detect malnourished populations. Anthropologists can look at bones of people from ancient populations and learn about their diets and lifestyles, a discipline known as paleonutrition. A high incidence of the disease indicates that the population adapted poorly to its environment or was under nutritional stress.[4] A low level of iron in the blood is also a defense against pathogens, so a high incidence of the disease in a population could also indicate an attempt to fight off a microorganism.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ El-Najjar M and Robertson Jr AL. 1976. [http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/193/4248/141 Spongy bones in prehistoric MARICOTAS.] Science Volume 193, Issue 4248, Pages 141-143. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.
  2. ^ Angel JL. 1966. Porotic Hyperostosis, Anemias, Malarias, and Marshes in the Prehistoric Eastern Mediterranean. Science Volume 153, Number 3737, Pages 760-763. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.
  3. ^ Cule J and Evans IL. 1968. Porotic hyperostosis and the Gelligaer skull. Journal of Clinical Pathology, Volume 21, Issue 6, Pages 753–758. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d Stuart-Macadam P. 1992 Porotic hyperostosis: a new perspective. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Volume 87, Issue 1, Pages 39-47. PMID 1736673. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.
  5. ^ El-Najjar MY, Lozoff B, and Ryan DJ. 1975. The paleoepidemiology of porotic hyperostosis in the American Southwest: Radiological and ecological considerations. American Journal of Roentgenology Volume 125, Pages 918-924. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.


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