Silicon doesn't seem to stop the bone breakdown.

It is osteoclasts that play a role in normal bone breakdown; osteoblasts are involved in the rebuilding of bone.

A high level in the plasma indicates bone breakdown.

Bone-forming medications are designed to do just what they say: instead of stopping the process of bone breakdown, they work to build more bone.

Bone loss - where bone breakdown is outpacing bone buildup - occurs in the mid-30s.

Certain medical conditions that increase bone breakdown, such as kidney disease, Cushing's syndrome, and an overactive thyroid or parathyroid, can also lead to osteoporosis.

Steroids also cause bone breakdown directly.

Six of the drugs inhibit bone breakdown and one spurs the growth of new bone.

"What it does is both increase bone formation and decrease bone breakdown."