OVER THE EDGE February 27 - March 12, 2008 Antidepressants Linked to Osteoporosis, Study Finds By STEPHANIE TAYLOR Tue Usyssey (University or Brinish Cocumaia) VANCOUVER (CUP) -- A new study on osteoporosis in Canad- ians has found a link between anti- depressant drugs and higher instan- ces of osteoporosis. The study focused on the use of a widely prescribed group of antidepressants known as select- ive-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in patients over 50 years of age. It was found that patients taking SSRIs doubled their risk of incurring osteoporosis-related in- juries, said David Goltzman, direc- tor of the Metabolic Bone Disease Centre at the McGill University Health Centre, and head of the study. “SSRIs were associated with a two-fold risk of developing min- imal trauma or osteoporotic frac- tures,” said Goltzman. “The abso- lute risk of developing fractures was 13.2 per cent in the individuals taking SSRIs and 6.6 per cent ‘in the individuals not taking SSRIs.” The study was carried out as part of the ongoing Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMOS), which is co-ordinated through. nine institutions across Canada. Researchers examined a cohort of patients 50 and older that has been monitored by CaMOS for the last 10 years. The researchers were aware of other age-related factors associated with osteoporosis, but were still able to establish a link with SSRIs after accounting for other possible variables. “Increased age, female sex, sed- entary lifestyle . . . are all known to predispose to osteoporosis, includ- ing osteoporosis in the CaMOS population,” Goltzman explained. “Because we had recorded all this data in the CaMOS database as well as data on the bone density of these people, their frequency of falls... we were able to correct for all of this.” He added that SSRIs were still associated with an increased risk of — low-trauma fractures. Goltzman also made reference to studies involving insurance com- pany records of medications and injuries. “Previous studies in adminis- trative databases, [such as] large databases accumulated usually by governments or insurance compan- ies to track health-care usage and costs, had indicated that there was a relationship between SSRIs and osteoporosis,” he said. While the nature of the SSRI link is unknown, there are several theories that researchers are con- sidering. “SSRIs alter serotonin transport into cells and previous work in vitro and in animals had found that serotonin transport into bone cells and action in bone cells seems to be important to make bone,” Goltz- man said. CaMOS is also theorizing sero- tonin’s role as a neurotransmitter and the potential for it to affect the sympathetic nervous system, which governs the mobilization of the body in times of stress. Jerilynn Prior, professor of endo- crinology and metabolism at the University of British Columbia and a research member of CaMOS, said that inhibiting neurotransmit- ters from the sympathetic nervous system, like epinephrine and nor- epinephrine, improves bones. “Norepinephrine is hard on bones,” Prior said. However, she said that serotonin’s specific effect 3 on the system is still unknown. Prior added that there were cer- tain behavioural patterns among depressed patients that could contribute to osteoporosis and as- sociated bone fractures, such as inattentiveness to one’s surround- ings, as well as increased levels of stress-related hormone cortisol, which can promote loss of bone density and hinder bone growth. However, she added that de- pressed patients taking SSRIs instead of other antidepressant formulations showed a markedly higher incidence of osteoporotic bone fractures. “The associations that we-found suggests that SSRI use apart from depression itself increases low bone density,” she said. “There’s something specific to the biochem- istry of SSRIs.” While all of this seems to paint a rather bleak picture for users of SSRIs, there are many lifestyle adjustments to one’s lifestyle that can lower one’s risk of developing osteoporosis. According to Marcel Dvorak, associate professor and head of the academic division of spine at UBC’s department of orthopedics in the faculty of medicine, having a healthy diet and getting enough exercise are the most important preventative measures. “Tf you maintain a healthy, nor- mal diet . . . and if you maintain a high level of physical activity, then those are the best ways to ensure the best [outcome].” “Tf you think of your bone mass as a bank, and during your life, you’re making deposits into that bank and you’re building up your bone mass, at a certain point that bone mass starts to diminish and wear away,” he said. “What you want to do is you want to get the best possible bone mass . . . before you hit those years when your bone mass starts to diminish.” Simran LEHAL News Epiror Anne Sommerfield, Senior Lab Instructor of the health sciences program, hosted the annual Health Sciences Open House, which fea- tured pamphlets, papers, and guests promoting rural health, nursing, dentistry, research, and aboriginal care. UNBC’s Bachelor of Health Sci- ences, created in response to the growing need for healthcare pro- fessionals in the north, is one of - four such programs in Canada and is the only one emphasizing the social aspect of health. Continu- ing in this line of social wellbeing, UNBC also offers a master’s de- gree in community health. Sommerfield feels “there is great opportunity in all areas of the pro- gram, and students often come into it saying the science and social science mix is exactly what they want.” Northern Medical Program building Proro TAKEN gy Simesn Lena, News Eniror The Opened House of UNBC Health Sciences The open house this year pro- moted the many new research ac- tivities undertaken by Health Sci- ences faculty and new research assistant opportunities available for students. The event also pro- moted options students have with their degrees: representatives from Northern Health, nursing, chiro- practory, and UBC dentistry were available to provide information. The open house also highlighted a new collaboration between UNBC and four other universities: Me- morial, Lakehead, Saskatchewan, and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. This new consortium will offer students customized pro- grams focused on Aboriginal and tural public health education. The interactive program will be offered for the first time in September on an online or distant format, and will provide certificate, diploma, and course-laddering options. The coordinator for the new national consortium, UNBC’s own Katrina Ludwig, feels the highly access- ible program “is necessary to meet the needs of diverse areas and to counter the urbanization of health- care.” For more information about this new program, contact Katrina Ludwig at ludwigk@unbc.ca. Irma Watt, administrative as- sistant of the health sciences pro- grams, consistently keeps students up-to-date with notices of health science events. Currently, all stu- dents are invited to attend the next Many Faces of Health Research Colloquium presentation by Dr. Shankar Chowdhury .on Febru- ary 29" at 2 pm, room 1069 in the admin building. On March 6, the public is invited to attend an addic- tions and brain injury conference at UNBC featuring Dr. Carolyn Lemsky, a Toronto neuropsycholo- gist with over 20 years experience. To register, contact kglassford@ pgbig.ca by February 29.