This year, my annual physical included a bone scan. It had been three years since the last one and I wasn’t optimistic about, nor looking forward to, the outcome. A little voice was nagging me, “Are you taking care of your bones?”
I’ve written about bone health in earlier years, but given COVID’s insidious ways of touching our lives, I thought I’d better review the literature and re up my game. And yes, I wondered if COVID was leaving its mark on our bones.
It was an easy question to answer. Indeed: The SARS-CoV-2 virus has spawned a whole new literature on osteoporosis. Some interesting articles that I found follow.
Mitochondrial dysfunction reportedly accelerates bone loss and impairs bone growth and repair.
Innovative use of pre- and post- COVID infection dental x-rays revealed that “COVID-19 had a significant effect on reducing bone thickness” of the jaw (mandible).
Artificial intelligence-based tools were used to investigate“ if COVID-19 deteriorates micro-scale porosities” and that “osteoporosis signs start appearing at the micro-scale.” In other word, AI analysis concludes that COVID infections can decrease bone density.
A big picture perspective that includes clinical evidence and mechanisms, was published in Current Osteoporosis Reports 2024. (SARS‑CoV‑2 and its Multifaceted Impact on Bone Health: Mechanisms and Clinical Evidence, Harris, et al.) This is a useful resource for those who want additional clinical insights.
As I waited for results from my own bone scan, the evidence became clear: COVID infections have the potential to impact bone health. While clinical trials will be vital to determining the extent to which C-19 is impacting bone health and the best ways to address the issues, now was the time to re-educate myself and focus on what I needed to do to protect and rebuild bone strength.
Interestingly, natural, diet-related nutritional strategies to support bone health suggest that the Mediterranean Diet forms a solid foundation for bone health as well cardiovascular and metabolic health.
In an open access review, Diets intervene osteoporosis via gut-bone axis, the authors lay out evidence that the Mediterranean Diet provides substantial benefits including “alleviat(ing) insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, maintain(ing) the intestinal integrity (and) optimiz(ing) overall metabolic status …(including) improv(ing) bone health.”
Beyond being the basis of delicious meals, the authors point to the emerging role of microbiota in protecting our bones. “Based on the gut-bone axis, dietary intake can also participate in the modulation of bone metabolism by altering abundance, diversity, and composition of gut microbiota.”
Consensus on the basics include that minerals and vitamins are needed to build and protect bone including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and Vitamins C, D and K. Moderation in intake of caffeine, sodium, and alcohol is recommended. Tobacco smoke exposure is a risk factor for bone loss, as is a sedentary lifestyle.
But wait! What was the result of my Dexa Scan? It’s been four years since my first COVID-19 infection and three years since my last bone study. And, during 2021 and 2022, I’d spent a good deal of time on the sofa.
Interestingly, the report offered very good news. Over the last 3 years I had GAINED 5% in bone mass in the critical bones that were reported. This was a reversal of the previous pattern of bone loss that had been ongoing for more than two decades.
Perhaps the article mentioned above, “Mitochondrial dysfunction impairs osteogenesis, increases osteoclast activity, and accelerates age related bone loss” suggests an answer.
This vital information needs to be read by all women, especially those who have had Covid. Their health care providers may be too busy to have read recent literature about the effects of Long Covid on bone health!
This really gives me hope - thanks Mardi! Happy for your positive outcome here.