Investigators have found that residential greenness may be linked to greater bone mineral density and a decreased risk of osteoporosis, according to a recent study published by Tan et al in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that air pollution can lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, disrupted hormones, and a greater risk of osteoporosis; however, green spaces may act as natural filters that remove osteoporosis-causing pollutants from the surrounding environment. In the recent observational study, the investigators used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index at buffer distances of 300 m, 500 m, 1,000 m, and 1,500 m to analyze residential greenness among 391,298 individuals in the UK Biobank. They then examined the correlation between greenness and estimated bone mineral density, prevalent osteoporosis, and incident osteoporosis; as well as the joint effects of genetic risk and greenness on the risk of osteoporosis. After an average monitoring period of 12 years, the investigators identified 9,307 new cases of osteoporosis. They discovered that each interquartile range increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index at a buffer distance of 300 m was associated with a 0.0007 increase in estimated bone mineral density (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.0002–0.0013), a 6% decreased risk of prevalent osteoporosis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.92–0.97), and a 5% decreased risk of incident osteoporosis (hazard ratio = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93–0.98). Compared with individuals exposed to low Normalized Difference Vegetation Index levels and high polygenic risk scores, those exposed to high Normalized Difference Vegetation Index levels and low polygenic risk scores were 56% less likely to develop osteoporosis (95% CI = 51%–61%). Notably, pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and particulate matter at 2.5 µm were primary mediators in the association between residential greenness and incident osteoporosis. The investigators concluded that residing in areas near gardens, parks, and other green spaces may help individuals increase their bone mineral density and avoid osteoporosis.
March 21, 2024