Background:
Previous research in psychiatric and community samples has shown reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in individuals with clinical depression and depressive symptoms, although the findings are equivocal. This study investigated the association between self-reported depression and BMD in a community sample of men aged 20–96 years enrolled in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study.
Methods:
A self-report questionnaire based on DSM-IV criteria was used to determine lifetime prevalence rates of depression within the study sample at baseline. Those currently taking oral glucocorticoids, testosterone or bisphosphonates were excluded (n = 23), resulting in a sample of 1279 men.
Results:
In this sample, 155 men (12%) reported a lifetime history of depression (LHX). There were no differences in age, weight, height or unadjusted BMD at the femoral neck between the depressed and nondepressed men (P = 0.08, 0.34, 0.41 and 0.13, respectively), but unadjusted BMD at the PA spine was significantly lower in those with an LHX (1.254 ± 0.187 vs. 1.293 ± 0.194 g/cm2, P = 0.017). Age, weight and smoking-adjusted BMD were 2.8% lower at the PA spine (1.255 ± 0.015 vs. 1.292 ± 0.006 g/cm2, P = 0.025) and 3.0% lower at the femoral neck (0.971 ± 0.011 vs. 1.001 ± 0.004 g/cm2, P = 0.007) in those with an LHX compared with those nondepressed. Adjusting for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use did not affect these relationships.
Conclusion:
These data are consistent with previous findings of diminished BMD in people with depressive disorders and symptoms and suggest that depression may be a risk factor for reduced BMD in community-dwelling adult men.
