Asthma may lead to bone loss: Study

New York, May 2 (IANS) People suffering from asthma may be more prone to bone loss as researchers have now discovered links between asthma and a decrease in bone mineral density.

"We know prolonged use of corticosteroids in the treatment of asthma is a risk factor of osteoporosis, but we have not had definite data showing the relationship between asthma itself and bone loss," explained Jae-Woo Jung of Seoul National University Medical Research Centre in South Korea.

"This study has shown a meaningful association between the two conditions even in the absence of previous oral corticosteroid use," Jung added.

For the study, researchers examined more than 7,000 patients, 433 of which had airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) or asthma.

Lumber spine and femur bone density was significantly lower in those with AHR or asthma, than those without the conditions, showed the findings of the research.

"Reasons can include corticosteroid use, low levels of vitamin D or even race," said John Oppenheimer, an associate editor of the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology that published the study.