Authors: Linn Hofsøy Steffensen Svein Ivar Mellgren Margitta T Kampman
Publish Date: 2009/10/01
Volume: 257, Issue: 3, Pages: 410-418
Abstract
The implications of having multiple sclerosis MS for bone health are incompletely understood The aim of this populationbased study is to identify past and current exposures that are associated with bone mass in fully ambulatory persons with MS up to age 50 years and to determine the prevalence of low bone mineral density BMD in this group We measured BMD hips lumbar spine forearms physical function BMI and serum 25OH vitamin D in 55 women and 25 men with MS Patients provided information on demographic variables and medical history as well as past and current vitamin D and calcium intake physical activity and lifestyle habits In regression analyses BMD levels were adjusted for age sex and BMI At the femoral neck strong associations were found for walking distance beta = 0152 P 0001 and age beta = −0004 P = 0003 and less certain associations for male sex beta = 0055 P = 0014 and 10foot timed tandem walk −0008 P = 0013 At the lumbar spine walking distance beta = 0013 P = 0006 and possibly physical activity growing up beta = 0035 P = 0028 and male sex beta = −0057 P = 0042 were associated with BMD At the ultradistal radius strength of grip beta = 0001 P = 0002 and less certainly summer outdoor activities age 16–20 beta = 0021 P = 0009 and age at MS onset beta = 0002 P = 0036 were associated with BMD Low BMD z score ≤−2 was present in 19 out of 80 patients This study shows that MSrelated variables as well as past exposures differentially affect BMD at three clinically important skeletal sites Low BMD is prevalent in these young patients Bone health should receive attention in care for persons with MSWe thank the patients for participating in the study At the University Hospital of North Norway study nurses Grethe Berg Johnsen and Marianne Røst Department of Neurology and May Rokstad Solem and Elin Hanssen Clinical Research Department performed measurements and function tests Elin Møller punched questionnaire data and Inger Sperstad handled files Clinical Research Centre Ole Martin Sand performed 25OHD measurements Department of Clinical Chemistry At the University of Tromsø Institute of Community Medicine Guri Skeie performed nutrition calculations and Bjørn Straume provided statistical advice The study received financial support from the University of Tromsø the Research Council of Norway and Odd Fellows Research Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis
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