Premature Graying, Balding, and Low Bone Mineral Density in Older Women and Men

Abstract

Objective: The authors report the association of balding or graying with BMD in older adults. Method: BMD was measured at the spine, hip, and total body in 1,207 participants. Of these, 508 women and 380 men responded to a 1986 survey about balding patterns; in 1994, all participants answered questions about graying. Results: Among men, 10.7% reported graying, and 51.1%, balding; 9.9% of women reported graying, and 9.5%, balding. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise, calcium supplements, diuretics, glucocorticoids, thyroid hormone, and estrogen. Conclusion: Graying was not significantly associated with BMD in either group. Balding men averaged 5% lower total body BMD ( p ≤ 0.05), and balding women had ~24% higher mean hip BMD (p ≤ 0.05). Graying and balding women reported a higher proportion of current estrogen use; balding women reported more use of glucocorticosteroids. Balding women using estrogen may explain the higher BMD.