Is there a proven link between HIV and/or ARVs and osteoporosis?

I'm a 42 years old man with HIV under ARV treatment, and I have severe osteoporosis. It seems very mysterious to me, and to most of my doctors. Can anyone help?

Yes, there seems to be.

Bone is the major structural system that provides support for our bodies and acts as a reservoir for important minerals. This living dynamic tissue goes through a constant process of tearing down and rebuilding. In this cycle, minerals move in and out of bones, and when bones lose more minerals than are put into them, they become thin and prone to fracture or break. Many factors affect this process, including nutrition, hormones, medications and disease.

Unfortunately, the bones of people with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) seem to be getting thinner. Research has shown that PHAs, especially those with low CD4 counts, can have low levels of osteocalcin, the primary hormone responsible for building new bone. Usually when PHAs have low levels of this hormone, they also tend to have low levels of vitamin D3, the activated form of vitamin D. Though the precise cause of bone loss in PHAs is not clear, it appears as though both HIV infection and HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), especially Protease Inhibitors, play a contributing role.

Whatever the cause, it is becoming increasingly clear that PHAs are at high risk of developing osteopenia 鈥?loss of bone mineral density (BMD) 鈥?and osteoporosis, the more severe form of the disease. But don鈥檛 go breaking your bones 鈥?there are ways to pamper and protect them. There are a lot of websites about this. check them out