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Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor therapy in late-life depression is associated with increased marker of bone resorption

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Abstract

Summary

Antidepressants are associated with bone loss and fractures in older adults. We treated depressed older adults with an antidepressant and examined its effects on bone turnover by comparing blood samples before and after treatment. Bone resorption increased after antidepressant treatment, which may increase fracture risk.

Introduction

Antidepressants have been associated with increased bone loss and fractures in older adults in observational studies, but the mechanism is unclear. We examined the effects of a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, venlafaxine, on biomarkers of bone turnover in a prospective treatment study of late-life depression.

Methods

Seventy-six individuals aged 60 years and older with current major depressive disorder received a 12-week course of venlafaxine XR 150–300 mg daily. We measured serum C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX) and N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), measures of bone resorption and formation, respectively, before and after treatment. We then analyzed the change in β-CTX and P1NP within each participant. Venlafaxine levels were measured at the end of the study. We assessed depression severity at baseline and remission status after treatment.

Results

After 12 weeks of venlafaxine, β-CTX increased significantly, whereas P1NP did not significantly change. The increase in β-CTX was significant only in participants whose depression did not remit (increase by 10 % in non-remitters vs. 4 % in remitters). Change in β-CTX was not correlated with serum levels of venlafaxine or norvenlafaxine.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the primary effect of serotonergic antidepressants is to increase bone resorption. However, such an increase in bone resorption seemed to depend on whether or not participants’ depression remitted. Our results are in agreement with prior observational studies reporting increased bone loss in older adults taking serotonergic antidepressants. These negative effects on bone homeostasis could potentially contribute to increased fracture risk in older adults.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by MH083648 to all three sites, P30 MH090333 (University of Pittsburgh), the UPMC Endowment in Geriatric Psychiatry (University of Pittsburgh), and the John A. Hartford Center of Excellence in Geriatric Psychiatry (University of Pittsburgh). Additionally, Pfizer provided venlafaxine XR for the study. Dr. Lenze had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Conflicts of interest

Drs. Shea, Garfield, Teitelbaum, and Dixon and Peter Dore have no financial disclosures. Dr. Mulsant currently receives research support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the US National Institute of Health (NIH); he directly own stocks of General Electric (less than $5,000); within the past 5 years, he has also received some grant support from Eli Lilly and Janssen and some travel support from Roche. Dr. Civitelli owns stock of Amgen, Merck & Co., and Eli Lilly; he has also received consultant fees from Amgen and has been on the speaker bureau for Amgen and Novartis. Dr. Lenze currently receives research support from Forest, Lundbeck, Johnson & Johnson, and Roche; within the past 5 years he has also been a consultant for Fox Learning Systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    M. L. O. Shea, L. D. Garfield, D. Dixon, P. Doré & E. J. Lenze

  2. Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    S. Teitelbaum

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    S. Teitelbaum & R. Civitelli

  4. School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    P. Doré

  5. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada

    B. H. Mulsant

  6. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    B. H. Mulsant

  7. Department of Psychiatry and Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    C. F. Reynolds III

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  1. M. L. O. Shea
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  2. L. D. Garfield
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  3. S. Teitelbaum
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  4. R. Civitelli
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  5. B. H. Mulsant
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  6. C. F. Reynolds III
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  7. D. Dixon
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  8. P. Doré
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  9. E. J. Lenze
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Correspondence to M. L. O. Shea.

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Shea, M.L.O., Garfield, L.D., Teitelbaum, S. et al. Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor therapy in late-life depression is associated with increased marker of bone resorption. Osteoporos Int 24, 1741–1749 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2170-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2170-z

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