Abstract
Background
Premature hair greying has been associated with low bone mineral density (BMD), and it may be more frequent in Graves’ disease.
Aims
To determine whether premature greying is associated with reduced BMD in women with Graves’ disease and in control women, and to examine whether premature greying is more common in Graves’ disease.
Methods
Premature greying (>50% grey by 40 years) and BMD were determined in 44 women with a history of Graves’ disease and 133 female controls referred for routine BMD measurement. Exclusion criteria included diseases or drugs known to affect BMD.
Results
Mean Z and T scores at the lumbar spine were significantly lower (P<0.04) in subjects with premature greying than in those not prematurely grey among women with Graves’ disease, but not among control women. Multiple regression confirmed this difference between Graves’ and control women (P=0.041). There were no differences at other measurement sites. Of Graves’ patients, 36% were prematurely grey compared with 25% of control women (P=0.14).
Conclusion
Premature greying may be a weak marker for reduced BMD in women with a history of Graves’ disease, but it is not a marker in normal women.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Keogh EV, Walsh RJ. Rate of greying of human hair.Nature 1965; 207: 877–878.
Rosen CJ, Holick MF, Millard PS. Premature greying of hair is a risk marker for osteopenia.J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994; 79: 854–857.
Orr-Walkcr BJ, Evans MC, Ames RW, Clearwater JM, Reid IR. Premature hair greying and bone mineral density.J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997; 82: 3580–3583.
Beardsworth SA, Kearney CE, Steel SA, Newman J, Purdie DW. Premature greying of the hair is not associated with low bone mineral density.Osteoporosis Int 1999; 10: 290–294.
Dawber RPR. Integumentary associations of pernicious anaemia.Br J Dermatol 1970; 82: 221–223.
Ortonne JP, Mosher DB, Fitzpatrick TB. Vitiligo and other hypomelanosis of hair and skin. Plenum Medical Book Company, New York and London, 1983; p. 207.
Ortonne JP, Mosher DB, Fitzpatrick TB, Vitiligo and other hypomelanosis of hair and skin. Plenum Medical Book Company, New York and London, 1983; p. 473.
Cline DJ. Changes in hair colour.Dermatol Clin 1988; 6: 295–303.
Leary AC, Grealy G, Higgins TM, et al. Long-term outcomes of treatment of hyperthyroidism in Ireland.Ir J Med Sci 1999; 168: 47–52.
Compston JE, Cooper C, Kanis JA. Bone densitometry in clinical practice,Br Med J, 1995; 310: 1507–1510.
Franklyn J, Betteridge J, Holder et al. Bone mineral density in thyroxine treated females with or without a previous history of thyrotoxicosis.Clin Endocrinol 1994; 41: 425–432.
Grant DJ, McMurdo MET, Mole PA, Paterson CR. Is previous hyperthyroidism still a risk factor for osteoporosis in post-menopausal women?Clin Endocrinol 1995; 43: 339–345.
Vanderpump MPJ, Tunbridge WMG, French JM et al. The incidence of thyroid disorders in the community: a twenty-year foiow-up of the Whickham Survey,Clin Endocrinol 1995; 43: 55–68.
Ralston SH. The Genetics of osteoporosis.Quarterly J Med 1997; 90: 247–251.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leary, A.C., Grealy, G., Higgins, T.M. et al. Premature hair greying may predict reduced bone mineral density in Graves’ disease. Ir J Med Sci 170, 117–119 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03168823
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03168823