PREMATURE GRAYING OF HAIR IS A RISK MARKER FOR OSTEOPENIA

Premature graying of hair is associated with several endocrine disorde rs, vitiligo, and the aging process. Although the pathophysiology of m elanin depletion in hair follicles is unknown, genetic factors regulat e the expression of this trait. As acquisition of bone mass is also ge netically determined, we performed an exploratory case control study o f the association between premature graying of hair and osteopenia (lu mbar bone density t score, below -1.0). Subjects were recruited from a single metabolic bone clinic. Premature graying of hair in 36 men and women with osteopenia (cases) was compared to that in 27 men and wome n without osteopenia (controls). Subjects with premature graying but n o other identifiable risk factor were 4.4 times as likely to have oste openia as subjects without premature graying (P = 0.02). Subjects with osteopenia and premature graying in their teens and twenties had a st ronger family history of osteoporosis than those who had osteopenia an d graying later in their thirties (P = 0.06), but bone density and oth er characteristics were not different. The association between prematu re graying and low bone mass could be related to genes that control pe ak bone mass or factors that regulate bone turnover. Premature graying of hair may be an important risk marker for osteopenia.