Alcohol dependence, smoking status, reproductive characteristics, and bone mineral density in premenopausal women.
Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femoral neck in 25 women who were alcohol dependent (case subjects) and 25 control subjects, matched for age, height, and weight was compared. Mean bone mineral density was 6.8% lower at the femoral neck and 6.9% lower at the lumbar spine in case subjects (p </= 0.05). Some of that difference may be attributed to cigarette smoking. Eighty-six percent of the cases and 44% of controls smoked. When smoking was controlled through comparison of pairs concordant on smoking status, the difference in bone mineral density between cases and controls diminished and was not significantly different. Cases were most likely to report episodes of nonpregnancy related amenorrhea and to have experienced their first pregnancy at age 16 years or younger. These findings suggest that, while women who were alcohol dependent had lower bone mineral density than those who were not, smoking behavior and reproductive characteristics may explain some of that difference.
Clark
K
K
College of Nursing, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 52246, USA.
Sowers
M R
MR
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D001823:Body Composition; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017697:Premenopause; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012098:Reproduction; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*