Mild Depression Causes Bone Loss in Women

By Pamela D. Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

Women's health issues have been receiving increased attention due to many ongoing studies. Heart disease is frequently under diagnosed in women. Now, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Mental Health, pre-menopausal women with even mild depression have less bone mass than their non-depressed peers. The level of bone loss associated with depression is at least as high as that associated with the recognized risk factors for osteoporosis, including smoking, low calcium intake and lack of physical activity. Blood and urine samples also showed that depressed women have imbalances in immune system substances. (www.nih.gov/news)

It's common knowledge that osteoporosis presents significant risk for fractures as age increases. For this group it would appear that increased attention to depression and osteoporosis is extremely important as both will effect the long term functioning and quality of life for women. For women who are depressed, requests for bone density testing becomes more important because depression has not previously been on clinician's checklists relative to this group. Along with the possibility of early osteoporosis is the potential for increased costs for health care and the ability to remain independent in advanced age.

Calcium supplements continue to remain important for women of all ages. Get enough calcium and vitamin D, perform weight bearing and resistance exercises, stop or don't smoke, and drink alcohol in moderation. More importantly, vitamin experts state that our bodies can only absorb 500mg of calcium at a time. So if you're taking more than this at once you're not getting the optimum benefit. To get the greatest benefit from calcium supplements, split up the daily requirement of calcium into more than one serving per day.

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