Anti-histamine Therapy and Bone Mineral Density: Analysis in a Population-Based U.S. Sample
Background
Histamine may play an important role in bone turnover. The data regarding histamine receptor antagonists (H1RA, H2RA) and bone mineral density in humans are sparse. We examined bone mineral density in subjects using histamine receptor antagonists in a representative U.S. population-based sample from The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III: 1988-1994).
Methods
Adult subjects 60 years and older using H1RA or H2RA who underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning in NHANES III were identified. We compared the femoral neck bone mineral density among users of these agents to non-users in adjusted linear regression models that included known demographic, anthropometric, and medical risk factors for osteoporosis.
Results
The mean age of study subjects was 72.6 years old, 52 % were women and 59 % were Caucasian. Among subjects with femoral neck bone mineral density measured, 199 used H1RAs, 297 used H2RAs, and 4,162 subjects were nonusers of histamine receptor antagonists. Femoral neck bone mineral density adjusting for age and gender and other covariates was higher in H1RA users (0.74 g/cm2) versus nonusers (0.72 g/cm2; p=0.037). H2RA users showed lower adjusted bone mineral density compared to non-users (0.69 g/cm2 versus 0.72 g/cm2; p =0.003), but bone densities were similar between H2RA users and nonusers when daily calcium intake exceeded 800mg per day.
Conclusions
Femoral neck bone mineral density may be higher in H1RA users than non-users among older adults. H2RA users with more reduced calcium intake had lower bone mineral density than non-users.
Background
Histamine may play an important role in bone turnover. The data regarding histamine receptor antagonists (H1RA, H2RA) and bone mineral density in humans are sparse. We examined bone mineral density in subjects using histamine receptor antagonists in a representative U.S. population-based sample from The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III: 1988-1994).
Methods
Adult subjects 60 years and older using H1RA or H2RA who underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning in NHANES III were identified. We compared the femoral neck bone mineral density among users of these agents to non-users in adjusted linear regression models that included known demographic, anthropometric, and medical risk factors for osteoporosis.
Results
The mean age of study subjects was 72.6 years old, 52 % were women and 59 % were Caucasian. Among subjects with femoral neck bone mineral density measured, 199 used H1RAs, 297 used H2RAs, and 4,162 subjects were nonusers of histamine receptor antagonists. Femoral neck bone mineral density adjusting for age and gender and other covariates was higher in H1RA users (0.74 g/cm2) versus nonusers (0.72 g/cm2; p=0.037). H2RA users showed lower adjusted bone mineral density compared to non-users (0.69 g/cm2 versus 0.72 g/cm2; p =0.003), but bone densities were similar between H2RA users and nonusers when daily calcium intake exceeded 800mg per day.
Conclusions
Femoral neck bone mineral density may be higher in H1RA users than non-users among older adults. H2RA users with more reduced calcium intake had lower bone mineral density than non-users.
