Over 50 and Taking Antidepressants? Read This!
February 1, 2007 by Kristen King
Filed under Women's Health
A new study indicates that daily use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a common class of antidepressant, may increase the risk of fracture in people over 50.
“Other studies have pointed to this [link], but our study confirms it,” says David Goltzman, MD, one of the study’s authors. Goltzman is director of the Centre for Bone and Periodontal Research at McGill University in Montreal.
Serotonin has been shown to have an effect on bone density, which is why inhibiting its reuptake creates a higher likelihood of bone fractures.
The antidepressants may boost risk of fracture, Goltzman says, because of their effect on bone physiology. Serotonin recently has been found to be important in bone physiology.
One animal study, for instance, found that “if you alter the ability of the bone to use serotonin, you will get a reduction in bone density,” Goltzman says.
If you’re taking an SSRI at any age, talk to your doctor about how you can maintain healthy bone density. And in the meantime, this is a good reason to consider calcium supplementation.
Here’s some more info on what every woman should know about calcium.
It’s all about prevention!
Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King
