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Elizabeth M. Haney, MD; Benjamin K. S. Chan, MS; Susan J. Diem, MD, MPH; Kristine E. Ensrud, MD, MPH; Jane A. Cauley, DrPh; Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, MD; Eric Orwoll, MD; M. Michael Bliziotes, MD; for the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study Group

Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(12):1246-1251.

Background  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a widely used class of antidepressants that block the serotonin transporter. Osteoblasts and osteocytes express functional serotonin transporters; serotonin transporter gene disruption in mice results in osteopenia; and SSRI use has been associated with increased risk of hip fracture.

Methods  To determine whether SSRI use is associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) in older men and to compare the results for SSRIs with those of other antidepressants, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 5995 men 65 years and older participating in the prospective cohort Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. Main outcome measures included medication use; BMD at the femoral neck, greater trochanter, and lumbar spine measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; and potential covariates.

Results  In adjusted analyses, mean BMD among SSRI users (n = 160) was 3.9% lower at the total hip and 5.9% lower at the lumbar spine compared with BMD in men reporting no antidepressant use (n = 5708 [P = .002 for total hip; P<.001 for lumbar spine]). There was no significant difference among users of trazodone hydrochloride (n = 52) or tricyclic antidepressants (n = 99) compared with nonusers. Adjusting for variables that could be associated with BMD and/or SSRI use did not significantly alter these results. The observed difference in BMD for SSRIs is similar to that seen with glucocorticoids.

Conclusions  In this population of men, BMD was lower among those reporting current SSRI use, but not among users of other antidepressants. Further research is needed to confirm this finding in light of widespread SSRI use and potentially important clinical implications.

Author Affiliations: Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland (Drs Haney, Orwoll, and Bliziotes and Mr Chan); University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Drs Diem and Ensrud); University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa (Dr Cauley); and University of San Diego, La Jolla, Calif (Dr Barrett-Connor).
Group Information: A list of members of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study Group was published in Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:2130.

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