Effect of inhaled corticosteroid therapy on bone markers and bone density
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Pharmacy Department
- Hôpital Sacré-Cœur de Montréal
- 5400 Boulevard Gouin Ouest
- Montréal (Québec)
- Canada H4J 1C5
Hughes and associates are to be congratulated on their important study evaluating the effect of high dose inhaled steroids on bone markers and bone mineral density.1 High dose inhaled corticosteroid therapy has been associated with a decrease in serum osteocalcin levels and a negative effect on bone density.2Surprisingly, Hughes et al found that osteocalcin and bone mineral density increased in patients receiving high dose inhaled corticosteroids. Possible reasons for these unexpected results could be that patients maintained adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, an appropriate level of weight bearing exercise, were mostly non-smokers, and had limited alcohol ingestion.2 Unfortunately, the article does not report the calcium and vitamin D intake, an appropriate level of weight bearing exercise, were mostly non-smokers, and had limited alcohol ingestion.2 Unfortunately, the article does not report the calcium and vitamin D intakes of the participants. This is important since calcium and vitamin D may prevent corticosteoid induced bone loss.3 Whether pharmacological interventions prevent osteoporosis in patients receiving long term inhaled glucocorticoids is an important question that remains to be answered.
References
authors’ reply Marie-France Beauchesne highlights the rise in serum osteocalcin levels and bone mineral density seen in our study and raises possible reasons for this result. The study did not obtain data on calcium and vitamin D intake but no patients received supplemental calcium or vitamin D during the study period. Exercise was broken down into light (32%), moderate (56%), and heavy (12%) average weekly physical exercise; 83% of the patients were non-smokers and 17% were current smokers; 31% drank no alcohol and, of the 69% consuming alcohol, the weekly median intake was 5 units (25th percentile 2.0; 75th percentile 14).
Although calcium and vitamin D intake is clearly important in assessing overall bone loss, our patients were not taking supplements and therefore this should not have influenced the rise in bone mineral density and osteocalcin levels seen in the study.
Of our study population 76% had been taking beclomethasone dipropionate prior to being enrolled in the study and, as both Eganet al 1-1 and Pauwelset al 1-2 reported either no change or increases in bone mineral density in patients on fluticasone propionate but decreases in those taking beclomethasone dipropionate, the type of inhaled corticosteroid may be important in determining bone mineral density and bone marker changes over time. Furthermore, Fordet al 1-3 found no differences in lumbar bone mineral density after a two year period when 500 μg fluticasone propionate given twice daily via a diskhaler was compared with placebo.
Future studies are therefore needed to differentiate between possible effects from specific inhaled corticosteroids. General statements concerning the safety and efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids need to take into account these differences.
