[Vertebral bone density and its correlation with various factors related to bone metabolism in alcoholics: a...

We measured vertebral bone density of 59 male alcoholics (ALC) using quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Bone density of ALC was decreased measured on admission compared with age-matched healthy male controls (ALC: 144 +/- 42, CONTROLS: 173 +/- 34 mg/cm3, p less than 0.05). The bone density was not correlated with serum ALP, Ca, and Pi. Serum parathyroid hormone and calcitonin were also not correlated with the bone density in ALC. Serum 25-(OH)-D showed significant positive correlation with the bone density (p less than 0.01) and 1,25-(OH)2-D showed trend of positive correlation with the bone density (p less than 0.01) in ALC. Severity of liver diseases did not have any relation to the bone density in ALC. Although the decreased bone density was not improved at the second QCT examined about 10 weeks after first QCT without medication, patients administered 1 microgram of 1 alpha-(OH)-D3 daily showed a significant increase in the bone density (on admission: 152 +/- 37, 10 weeks later: 162 +/- 35 mg/cm3, p less than 0.02). Combination therapy of 1 alpha-(OH)-D3 and calcitonin did not increase the bone density. These results indicate that bone density was decreased in ALC and a decrease in serum vitamin D metabolites may cause a decrease in the bone density, although liver dysfunction does not have a role in it. These data also suggest that 1 alpha-(OH)-D3 is effective in an increase in the bone density in ALC with osteoporosis after abstinence.