1. Women with early menopause (40-45 years)

2. Younger women with ovarian hormone failure Or bilateral oophorectomy ( removal of Ovaries ) before normal menopause.

3. Women not receiving hormonal therapy for at least 5 years after menopause.

4. Patients after prolonged corticoid treatment of more than 3 months.

5. Primary hyperparathyroidism.

6. Strong family history of osteoporosis.

7. Men with hypogonadism.

8. Patients who have received chemotherapy, especially --- for breast cancers and haematological cancers.

9. Certain drugs enhance bone loss and render the patient susceptible to development of osteoporosis (e.g. corticoids, anti-convulsants, excessive doses of thyroid hormone, prolonged heparin therapy and anti-cancer drugs including high doses of methotrexate.

10. Low Calcium in diet.

11. Insufficient exposure to sunlight or not enough Vitamin D in diet.

12. White or Eurasian ancestry .

13. Caffeine (consistently more than three cups a day of coffee, tea, cola).

14. Alcohol (consistently more than two drinks a day).

15. Sedentary life style or prolonged bed rest.

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