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Skeletal Effects of Smoking

  • Therapeutics and Medical Management (E Shane and R Adler, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death and disability. Smoking has long been identified as a risk factor for osteoporosis, with data showing that older smokers have decreased bone mineral density and increased fracture risk compared to nonsmokers, particularly at the hip. The increase in fracture risk in smokers is out of proportion to the effects on bone density, indicating deficits in bone quality. Advanced imaging techniques have demonstrated microarchitectural deterioration in smokers, particularly in the trabecular compartment. The mechanisms by which smoking affects skeletal health remain unclear, although multiple pathways have been proposed. Smoking cessation may at least partially reverse the adverse effects of smoking on the skeleton.

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  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, PH 8W-864, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Natalie E. Cusano

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Cusano, N.E. Skeletal Effects of Smoking. Curr Osteoporos Rep 13, 302–309 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-015-0278-8

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