Anti-Inflammatory Therapy May Help Prevent Osteoporosis

Researchers in Australia have found that people with signs of systemic inflammation lose more bone mineral density than those with lower levels of inflammation. This longitudinal study was the first to comprehensively document the associations between inflammation and bone loss in older adults.

Osteoporosis is characterized by the loss of bone mass and deterioration of bone structure with a resulting increase in bone fragility and susceptibility of fracture. The prevalence of osteoporosis has become an important public health issue. A number of risk factors are well recognized, including age, gender, smoking, physical inactivity, and vitamin D and estrogen deficiency. Experimental studies in animals have shown that certain forms of inflammation can play a role in bone health. However, there is very little research to confirm these findings in humans—this study was organized to do just that.

The study sampled 168 randomly-selected respondents between the ages of 52 to 78. It was conducted as part of a population-based study aimed at identifying the environmental, genetic, and biochemical factors associated with the development and progression of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Each respondent was subjected to a series of physiological tests and measures and a health assessment questionnaire.

The findings from this study have various implications. First, it provides evidence that bone loss in older adults involves a low-grade inflammatory process. Second, assessing these inflammatory markers can help identify bone loss in older adults. Finally, anti-inflammatory diets may help prevent osteoporosis and anti-inflammatory therapies might be a suitable alternative to the various osteoporosis treatments known to have cardiovascular side effects in women.

Source: Ding, C., Parameswarean, V., Udayan, R., Burgess, J., & Jones, G. 2008. Circulating levels of inflammatory markers predict change in bone mineral density and resorption in older adults: A longitudinal study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 93(5): 1952-1958.