Young and middle-aged women with depression may face an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, according to a study funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

In the study, researchers compared bone-mineral density in 89 premenopausal women with major depressive disorder and 44 women without it. Women with depression were more likely to have low bone-mineral density in their hips, and they also had lower bone-mineral density in their lower backs.

These deficits in bone-mineral density are similar to those that result from well-known risk factors for osteoporosis such as smoking and too-little calcium intake, the researchers point out.

According to a news release from the NIMH, the connection between depression and low bone density may be from immune-system imbalances. The women with depression had higher levels of inflammatory chemicals in blood and urine samples taken over the course of a day, and lower levels of chemicals that dampen inflammation. One of these inflammation- promoting substances has been found to promote bone loss.

In the news release, a study author stated that "Depression generally isn't on clinicians' radar screens as a major risk factor for osteoporosis, particularly for premenopausal women. It should be."

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