Could Heavy Cannabis Use Affect Bone Health?

Heavy cannabis use is associated with low body mass index (BMI), low bone mineral density, high bone turnover, and increased risk of fracture, according to the results of a recent study.

In order to investigate potential associations between cannabis use and overall bone health, researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of individuals who regularly smoked cannabis divided into moderate (n=56) and heavy user (n=144) subgroups. Subgroup categorization was based on self-reporting of fewer or more than 5000 cannabis smoking episodes during the individual’s lifetime.
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Overall, heavy cannabis users had lower total hip bone mineral density, lower spine bone mineral density, fracture rate, and lower BMI than controls. Serum cross-linked C-telopeptide of type 1 collagen concentrations and serum N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen concentrations were raised in heavy cannabis smokers, while serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were reduced.

Through multiple regression analyses, researchers found that heavy cannabis use was an independent predictor of spine bone mineral density and total hip bone mineral density.

“Heavy cannabis use is associated with low bone mineral density, low BMI, high bone turnover, and an increased risk of fracture,” the researchers concluded. “Heavy cannabis use negatively impacts on bone health both directly and indirectly through an effect on BMI.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:
Sophocleous A, Robertson R, Ferreira NB, et al. Heavy cannabis use is associated with low bone mineral density and an increased risk of fractures [published online September 1, 2016]. Am J Med. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.07.034.