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DEPRESSION AND BONE DENSITY.

Depression has several behavioral and biochemical correlates that might affect bone density. To determine whether bone density is in fact lower in depressed women, researchers compared 24 women with current or past major depression (mean age, 41) and 24 controls matched for age and body mass index.

Compared with controls, women with depression had significantly lower bone density at the lumbar spine and femur, but not at the radius. Ten depressed women, but no controls, had at least one bone density measurement that was two or more standard deviations below normal. The depression group also had significantly higher mean 24-hour urinary cortisol, lower serum osteocalcin (a marker of osteoblastic activity), and a lower mean ratio of urinary deoxypyridinoline to creatinine (a marker of bone resorption).

Comment: Since the cases and controls in this study were rather well matched with respect to characteristics that might alter bone density (e.g., smoking, exercise, etc.), something related to depression itself seems responsible for reduced bone density. But the precise explanation for this link remains unclear.

— AS Brett

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine October 29, 1996

Citation(s):

Michelson D et al. Bone mineral density in women with depression. N Engl J Med 1996 Oct 17 335 1176-1181.

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