Cigarette Smoking, Birthweight and Osteoporosis in Adulthood
Author Information
Author(s): Moinuddin M.M, Jameson K.A, Syddall H.E, Sayer A., Aihie Martin H.J, Robinson S, Cooper C, Dennison E.M
Primary Institution: MRC Resource Centre, University of Southampton
Hypothesis
Does early environment and adult lifestyle interact to determine bone mineral content and density?
Conclusion
Lower birth weight males who smoke may have lower bone mineral density.
Supporting Evidence
- Individuals of lower birth weight may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of bone noxious stimuli such as cigarette smoking.
- Current male smokers in the lowest third of birth weight had lower femoral neck BMD than ex- or never smokers.
- No relationships were found between lifestyle factors and BMD or BMC in the overall group.
Takeaway
If you were born small and smoke, your bones might be weaker when you grow up.
Methodology
The study involved 498 men and 468 women aged 59-71, assessing their health and bone density through questionnaires and DXA scans.
Potential Biases
Selection bias is minimal, but the lack of interaction in women could reflect limited study power.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable due to the specific population and limited power to detect effects in women.
Participant Demographics
Participants were men and women aged 59-71, born in Hertfordshire between 1931-39.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.04
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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