Search resultsBone structure and geometry in young men: The influence of smoking, alcohol intake and physical activity
Title
Bone structure and geometry in young men: The influence of smoking, alcohol intake and physical activity
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2013
Authors
Journal
Bone
Volume
52
Issue
1
Pagination
17 - 26
Date published
2013
ISBN
87563282 (ISSN)
Keywords
Absorptiometry, Photon, Adolescent, Adult, alcohol, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, article, BMD, Bone and Bones, bone density, bone growth, bone strength, bone structure, Caucasian, Cohort Studies, controlled study, dual energy X ray absorptiometry, environmental factor, European Continental Ancestry Group, Exercise, femur, hip, human, human experiment, Humans, image analysis, lifestyle, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, male, morphometrics, Motor Activity, MRI, normal human, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, osteolysis, phenotype, physical activity, QUS, smoking, socioeconomics, weight bearing
Abstract
Background: The development of osteoporosis is influenced by peak bone mass attained in youth - the influence of lifestyle factors upon which is poorly described, especially amongst males. We sought to address this issue in a large scale study. Methods: Hip bone mineral density (dual X-ray absorptiometry, DXA), bone microarchitecture (calcaneal quantitative ultrasound, QUS) and femoral geometry (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) were characterised in 723 healthy male military recruits (mean ± S.E. age 19.92 ± 0.09. years [range 16-18. years], height 177.67 ± 0.24. cm, weight 73.17 ± 0.37. kg) on entry to UK Army training. Association was sought with prior physical activity, smoking status and alcohol intake. Results: DXA measures were made in 651, MRI measures in 650, and QUS measures in 572 recruits. Increasing levels of weight-bearing physical activity enhanced periostial bone apposition, increases in both total hip and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD; p≤ 0.0001 in both cases), and cortical [. p< 0.0001] and periostial bone volumes [. p= 0.016]. Smoking habit was associated with preserved bone geometry, but worse BMD [. p= 0.0001] and QUS characteristics [. p≤ 0.0005]. Moderate alcohol consumption was associated with greater BMD [. p≤ 0.015]. Conclusions: Whilst exercise (and perhaps moderate alcohol intake) is beneficial to bone morphometry, smoking is detrimental to bone mineral density in young males notable for the likely short duration of smoking to influence skeletal properties. However, differences in socio-economic status, lifestyle and related environmental factors may to some extent confound our results.