Dietary Zinc Intake Lowers Risk of Osteoporosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Study

A recent study published in the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders journal revealed that higher dietary zinc intake may significantly reduce the risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis development in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteoporosis is the most common and serious complication of RA where the weakened bones increase the risk of fracture. 

The study drew data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and spanned from 2007 to 2020. The research analyzed the impact of zinc consumption on RA patients aged 40 years and older. This research employed both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to assess the relationship between zinc intake and bone health by factoring in variables such as age, body mass index (BMI), nonsteroidal drug use, and other underlying health conditions.

Out of 905 RA patients analyzed, the individuals with higher dietary zinc intake showed significantly lower odds of developing osteopenia or osteoporosis. The patients with zinc intake equal to or above 19.52 mg daily expressed a 61% reduced risk of these bone conditions when compared to the individuals with lower zinc consumption. This protective effect of zinc was especially evident in subgroups like older adults (≥60 years), individuals with normal or underweight BMI, the individuals on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and the individuals with conditions like dyslipidemia, diabetes, or hypertension.