title: Effects of antidepressants on postmenopausal bone loss - A 5-year longitudinal study from the OSTPRE cohort.
abstract: Osteoporosis and depression are major health problems worldwide. The association between antidepressants, a treatment for depression, and bone health needs more detailed exploration.
  
  
  
  The present study investigates antidepressant medication use and postmenopausal bone loss over time.
  
  
  
  A total of 1988 women (aged 57-67) participating in the Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention Study (OSTPRE) cohort responded to a postal enquiry and had their femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) measured in 1999 and again in 2004. Data on antidepressant use was obtained from the National Prescription Register. Multiple regression techniques were used to test the associations, before and after adjustment for anthropometric, medical, physical and lifestyle factors.
  
  
  
  Over the five years of follow-up, 319 (16.0%) women purchased antidepressants. Mean baseline femoral neck BMD for the entire study group was 881mg/cm(2) (SD 123) and mean 5-year bone loss was 6.0mg/cm(2) (SD 4.7). After adjustments, users of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) had greater annual BMD loss than non-users (-3.6mg/cm(2) vs. -1.1mg/cm(2); P=0.031). Accelerated bone loss was also associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor's (SSRI) use (P=0.001) and use of other antidepressants in a dose-response way, with the latter only among women of low-weight and normal-weight women who had lost weight over the study period.
  
  
  
  In conclusion, the use of SSRIs seems to accelerate postmenopausal bone loss in a dose-response manner. Associations between TCA and other antidepressant use and bone loss may also exist. Thus, the possibility of increased risk of osteoporosis should be considered when prescribing antidepressants for postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Kuopio, Finland; The Kuopio Musculoskeletal Reseach Unit, Clinical Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, UEF, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: pr.rauma@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Päivi H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rauma
authors.affiliation: The Kuopio Musculoskeletal Reseach Unit, Clinical Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, UEF, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: risto.honkanen@fimnet.fi.
authors.forename: Risto J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Honkanen
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: lanaw@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Lana J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: The Kuopio Musculoskeletal Reseach Unit, Clinical Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, UEF, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital (KUH), Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: marjo.tuppurainen@kuh.fi.
authors.forename: Marjo T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Tuppurainen
authors.affiliation: The Kuopio Musculoskeletal Reseach Unit, Clinical Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, UEF, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Handsurgery, KUH, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: heikki.kroger@kuh.fi.
authors.forename: Heikki P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kröger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry, UEF, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, KUH, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, South-Savonia Hospital District, Mikkeli, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, SOSTERI, Savonlinna, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, SOTE, Iisalmi, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Lapland Central Hospital, Rovaniemi, Finland; Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Finland. Electronic address: heli.koivumaa@kuh.fi.
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koivumaa-Honkanen
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Antidepressants; Bone loss; Bone mineral density; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal women; Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors