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.

Among patients aged 60 and above, the individuals with adequate dietary zinc intake had a 62% reduced risk of developing osteoporosis (OR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.16-0.91). Similar findings were observed in individuals with normal or underweight BMI (OR=0.16, 95% CI: 0.03–0.84) and the individuals using NSAIDs (OR=0.14, 95% CI: 0.02–0.82). Also, zinc intake was associated with decreased odds of osteoporosis or osteopenia in patients with dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension which reinforces the potential benefits of zinc in protecting bone health across various patient profiles.

While these results highlight a promising link between zinc and bone preservation in RA patients, the study caution the importance of further research. Randomized clinical trials and longitudinal studies are required to confirm the findings and explore the proper mechanisms through which zinc influences bone density. This study suggests that adequate dietary zinc intake could serve as a valuable component of RA management by helping in the reduction of osteoporosis risk and improve overall bone health in these patients.

Source:

Fang, D., Jiang, D., Shi, G., & Song, Y. (2024). The association between dietary zinc intake and osteopenia, osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (Vol. 25, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07768-5