You've just been diagnosed with osteoporosis and you aren't sure what other tests to have besides the DXA.  It's a good idea to have blood and urine tests to check for mineral and vitamin metabolism problems, among others, and to check for secondary medical causes of bone loss and medication causes as well.

Here's a list of tests you can have your doctor order if you want to look into the various causes of osteoporosis besides the primary causes, like hormone depletion from menopause, after your DXA and Vertebral Fracture Assessment test.

Blood and Urine Tests for Osteoporosis:

• Blood Calcium levels are elevated when you have other bone diseases.

• Vitamin D, when low can lead to decreased calcium absorption.

• Parathyroid hormone is used to check for hyperparathyroidism.

• Thyroid tests check for thyroid disorder.

• Follicle-stimulating hormone is used to check menopause status.

• Testosterone is used in men to check for deficiencies.

• Protein electrophoresis checks for proteins produced by certain cancers that cause bone resorption.

• Alkaline phosphatase checks for elevated levels that may cause bone loss.

• Phosphorus to help treat disorders with calcium and phosphorus imbalances.

• Estradiol for estrogen levels.

• 24-hour urine calcium tells you how much calcium is lost through urine.

• Bone formation markers tests that measure how much bone/collagen you are building.

• Bone resorption markers tests that measure how much bone/collagen you are losing.

• Celiac test for gluten allergy which can cause bone loss if untreated.

• DHEA evaluates the function of the adrenal glands.

• Free cortisol measures cortisol hormone which may relate to adrenal and pituitary gland problems.

• C-reactive hormone tests for inflammatory diseases, e.g. arthritis, IBS.

• Homocysteine elevated levels may indicate atherosclerosis  [1 & 3]

Formation markers: