Bone health in young women: the effect of tobacco smoking, environmental tobacco smoke exposure and physical activity on bone mineral density

Abstract

Health behaviours are a key component of bone health. In 657 young women examined the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC) in the distal and proximal part of the forearm, and physical activity (PA), smoking (AS), environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS) and body mass index (BMI). The densitometry method, Global Adult Tobacco Survey Questionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used. Weekly physical activity was calculated by adding up the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET). Smoking women had significantly lower bone parameters. The predictor of interactions of three variables: PA, BMI (positive direction), and years of ETS exposure (negative direction) was significant for distal BMD and BMC. The predictor of interactions of PA, BMI (positive direction), and AS in numbers of cigarettes per day and years of ETS exposure (negative direction) was significant for BMD prox. MET min/week (positive direction), years of AS, and ETS exposure (negative direction) were significant predictors for T-score dis. The predictor of interactions of five variables: PA (MET), BMI, age of starting smoking (positive direction), AS in numbers of cigarettes per day, and years of ETS exposure (negative direction) was significant for T-score prox. Cigarette smoking and ETS are modifiable determinants of low bone mineral density in young Polish women. Despite the women’s good socio-economic status, a high, alarming incidence of low BMD was reported. The current study may be important in understanding the relationship between BMD, BMC, and smoking in young women as risk determinants of osteoporosis in future.