Can Wrinkles be a Symptom for Fragile Bones?

Experts reckon that India has 36 million osteoporosis patients, majority of them older women. Also post menopausal women at risk are hardly screened for it.

Yale researchers studied 100 women in their late 40's and early 50's who had just entered menopause and found that women with the most wrinkles had the lowest bone density at major sites such as the hip and spine.

Bone and skin share common building blocks,  a group of proteins called collagen which decrease with age says study author Lubna Pal MD.

Dr. Pal stumbled upon this research 7 years ago when she presented  a study showing that women with low ovarian reserves had lower bone density.

When many of Dr Pals patients who approached menopause complained about wrinkles in their skin and thinning of hair it made her think that as they were losing collagen in their skin they may also be losing collagen in their bones.

BUT DONT PANIC if you are in your late 40's and early 50's and your FACE IS FULL OF WRINKLES!

Long term studies are needed to establish a relationship between wrinkles and fractures. There may be other factors also such as exposure to sun and genetics.

NOW USE THE NEWS!

* If you are going through menopause and have noticed a bevy of wrinkles, consult your physician about whether you should go for a bone scan, specially if you have a family history of osteoporosis.

* Also, if you are a smoker, if you drink (more than 2 drinks a day) and if you are overweight then go for a bone scan after consulting your physician.