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Bone mass and vitamin D levels in women with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia

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Abstract

Summary

No differences in either bone mineral density or serum 25OHD levels have been found between 205 women with fibromyalgia (both pre- and postmenopausal) and their controls. However, a lack of the expected 25OHD summer rise was observed in patients.

Introduction

Contradictory data have been published regarding a possible association between fibromyalgia and osteoporosis or hypovitaminosis D. Most studies, however, have been performed in small size samples and have excluded postmenopausal women. We decided to study this association in a larger sample of fibromyalgia patients including both pre- and postmenopausal women.

Methods

Two hundred five patients were recruited from a clinic specializing in fibromyalgia and 205 healthy controls were enrolled from the census of a Primary Care Center. Controls were matched with patients by age and the time of the year they were included in the study. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by DXA. Serum 25OHD, iPTH, P1NP, and CTX were also determined.

Results

BMD was similar in both groups (lumbar spine, 0.971 ± 0.146 g/cm2 in patients and 0.970 ± 0.132 g/cm2 in controls; femoral neck, 0.780 ± 0.122 g/cm2 and 0.785 ± 0.117 g/cm2, respectively). 25OHD levels were also similar: 23.0 ± 9.5 ng/ml and 24.1 ± 9.6 ng/ml. However, while controls showed the usual summer rise in 25OHD, fibromyalgia patients did not. PTH did not show seasonal changes, but on average was higher in patients (51 pg/ml vs. 48 pg/ml; p = 0.034). P1NP or CTX were similar in both groups.

Conclusions

No differences in BMD were found between patients and controls. As for 25OHD, a lack of its expected summer rise was observed. It is doubtful whether this has any homeostatic consequence. We consider that the association reported in other studies is merely circumstantial, and not due to the intrinsic characteristics of these disorders.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FIS, Spain (PI08/0183 and PI11/01092).

Conflicts of interests

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla. University of Cantabria. RETICEF. IFIMAV, 39005, Santander, Spain

    F. Mateos, C. Valero, J. M. Olmos, J. Martínez, J. L. Hernández & J. González Macías

  2. Rheumatology. IMQ, Santander, Spain

    B. Casanueva

  3. Centro de Salud “José Barros”. Camargo, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain

    J. Castillo

Authors
  1. F. Mateos
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  2. C. Valero
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  3. J. M. Olmos
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  6. J. Martínez
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  7. J. L. Hernández
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Mateos.

Appendix: Baseline data

Appendix: Baseline data

Age

Weight

Height

BMI

Age at menarche

Menopause (yes/no)

Age at menopause

Breastfeeding (yes/no)

Nursing time (months)

Children (yes/no)

Ovariectomy (yes/no)

Physical activity (sedentary, average, intense)

Marital status (single, married, widow, divorced)

Occupation (retired, unemployed, housewife, actively employed)

Education (without studies, primary /secondary, university)

Previous osteoporosis diagnosis (yes/no)

Family history of fracture (mother [yes/no], other [yes/no])

Personal fx history > 40 a (yes/no)

Smoker (yes/no)

Number of cigarettes

Alcohol intake (> or <3 u/d)

Coffee (> or <3 cups/day)

Calcium supplements (currently, never, sometimes)

Dairy calcium intake (mg/day)

Vitamin D supplements (yes/no)

General vitamin supplements (yes/no)

Bisphosphonates (yes/no)

Raloxifene (yes/no)

Tibolone (yes/no)

Calcitonin (yes/no)

HRT (currently, never, previously)

Strontium ranelate (yes/no)

PTH (yes/no)

Steroids (yes/no)

Diuretics (thiazide, furosemide)

Gabapentin, pregabalin (yes/no)

Immunosuppressors (yes/no)

Thyroid hormone (yes/no)

Oral anticoagulants (yes/no)

Benzodiazepines (yes/no)

SSRIs (yes/no)

Beta-blockers (yes/no)

Antiarrhythmics (yes/no)

Statins (yes/no)

Insulin (yes/no)

Oral antidiabetic drugs (yes/no)

Diabetes (yes/no)

HTA (yes/no)

Hypercholesterolemia (yes/no)

Coronary disease (yes/no)

Chronic renal failure (yes/no)

Chronic bronchitis (yes/no)

Chronic liver disease (yes/no)

Stroke (yes/no)

Parkinson disease (yes/no)

Dementia (yes/no)

Osteoarthritis (yes/no)

Renal colic (yes/no)

Primary hyperparathyroidism (yes/no)

Collagen disease (yes/no)

Intestinal malabsorption (yes/no)

Hyper-/hypothyroidism (yes/no)

Rheumatoid arthritis (yes/no)

Any cancer (yes/no)

Loss of visual acuity (yes/no)

Cataract (yes/no)

Hearing loss (yes/no)

Falls in the previous year (yes/no)

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Mateos, F., Valero, C., Olmos, J.M. et al. Bone mass and vitamin D levels in women with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Osteoporos Int 25, 525–533 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2434-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2434-2

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