Bone mass improves in alcoholics after 2 years of abstinence.
To evaluate the effect of abstinence on bone mass and bone mineral metabolism in chronic alcoholics, a 2 year longitudinal follow-up study was carried out in a group of 30 chronic alcoholic males who started a rehabilitation program. Lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) and serum levels of osteocalcin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured at entry and after 1 and 2 years in all patients. Circulating cortisol and parathyroid hormone were measured in 14 and 6 patients, respectively, at entry and every year. Testosterone was measured in 18 patients at entry and after 1 year. At entry, lumbar BMD was significantly lower in alcoholics (1.06 +/- 0.03 g/cm2) than in age-matched healthy men (1.22 +/- 0.03 g/cm2; p < 0.001). Circulating osteocalcin and vitamin D levels were also significantly lower in alcoholics than in controls. Lumbar and femoral neck BMD increased in alcoholics after 2 years of abstinence (lumbar BMD, mean +/- SEM, 1.06 +/- 0.03 to 1.10 +/- 0.04 g/cm2, p < 0.05; femoral BMD, 0.82 +/- 0.02 to 0.84 +/- 0.02 g/cm2; p < 0.02). Moreover, lumbar BMD increased in alcoholics (2.9 +/- 1.4%) and decreased in controls (-1.1 +/- 0.2%; p < 0.02). Femoral BMD also increased in alcoholics (2.8 +/- 1.0%) but the expected mean decrease of -0.92% was found in healthy age-matched males. Baseline low osteocalcin levels (5.1 +/- 0.6 ng/ml) increased after 1 year (8.6 +/- 0.5 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and 2 years of abstinence (9.5 +/- 0.7 ng/ml, p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Peris
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P
Metabolic Bone Disease Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Parés
A
A
Guañabens
N
N
Del Río
L
L
Pons
F
F
Martínez de Osaba
M J
MJ
Monegal
A
A
Caballería
J
J
Rodés
J
J
Muñoz-Gómez
J
J
D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 / Q000097:blood; D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000502:physiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D016014:Linear Models; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000503:physiopathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D044465:White People
D015415:Biomarkers; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D015675:Osteocalcin; D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2