Organochlorines and bone mineral density in Swedish men from the general population

Citation
Aw. Glynn et al., Organochlorines and bone mineral density in Swedish men from the general population, OSTEOPOR IN, 11(12), 2000, pp. 1036-1042
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Endocrynology, Metabolism & Nutrition
Journal title
OSTEOPOROSIS INTERNATIONAL
ISSN journal
0937941X → ACNP
Volume
11
Issue
12
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1036 - 1042
Database
ISI
SICI code
0937-941X(2000)11:12<1036:OABMDI>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
Persistent organochlorines (POCs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT, are present at relatively high concentrations in food and show es trogenic, anti-estrogenic or anti-androgenic activity in biological test sy stems. Because bone mineral density (BMD) in men is influenced by sex hormo nes, we looked for associations between BMD and serum concentrations of POC s in 115 men (mean age 63 years, range 40-75 years) from the general Swedis h population. Ten PCB congeners, five DDT isomers, hexachlorobenzene, three hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, trans-nonachlor and oxychlordane were analy zed by gas chromatography. Quantitative bone measurements were performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at three sites: whole body, the L2-L4 reg ion of the lumbar spine, and the neck region of the proximal femur, as well as by quantitative ultrasound on the left os calcis (broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS)). After adjustment for confoundi ng factors in linear regression analyses we found no strong association bet ween serum concentrations of single POCs and the five BMD and ultrasound va riables. When POCs were grouped according to hormonal activity (estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, anti-androgenic) and the study subjects were divided into organochlorine concentration quartiles, a weak association was indicated b etween increased serum concentrations of p,p'-DDE (antiandrogenic) and decr eased BMD, BUA and SOS. This may suggest that p,p'-DDE could cause negative effects on bone density, but the findings might also be due to chance sinc e multiple comparisons were made in the statistical analysis. Overall our r esults do not suggest that the studied POCs caused major effects on bone de nsity in our study group.