Has the COVID-19 pandemic compromised bone health?

Results from a study published in the American Journal of Human Biology suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had negative effects on bone tissue—including both bone mineral density in the forearm and total bone mineral content.

The study by investigators at Comenius University, in Slovakia, included 387 young adults whose bone health measurements were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and 386 whose measurements were taken from September 2020 to November 2022 during the pandemic. Individuals participated in the study only once, either before or during the pandemic.

Certain lifestyle changes during the pandemic may have contributed to the lower bone mineral density and total bone mineral content that researchers observed in participants assessed during the pandemic compared with those assessed earlier.

“Our findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant bone mineral density decrease in young adults,” said co–corresponding author Lenka Vorobeľová, PhD. "Additional research is needed to evaluate this pandemic-related bone tissue reduction as an important symptom of long-COVID-syndrome," added co–corresponding author Darina Falbová, PhD.

They also stressed that additional studies should investigate post-pandemic risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture in older populations.

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajhb.24009

Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.

About the Journal
The American Journal of Human Biology, the Official Journal of the Human Biology Association, is a monthly, peer-reviewed, internationally circulated journal that publishes reports of original research, theoretical articles and timely reviews, and brief communications in the interdisciplinary field of human biology.

About Wiley
Wiley is a knowledge company and a global leader in research, publishing, and knowledge solutions. Dedicated to the creation and application of knowledge, Wiley serves the world’s researchers, learners, innovators, and leaders, helping them achieve their goals and solve the world's most important challenges. For more than two centuries, Wiley has been delivering on its timeless mission to unlock human potential. Visit us at Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.