According to a new study, high blood pressure may accelerate osteoporosis. Learn about the high blood pressure impact on bone health.
A study presented at the 2022 American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Session suggests that hypertension (high blood pressure) may accelerate bone aging and osteoporosis. Researchers analyzed bone health in mice with and without high blood pressure.
The study, which included 45 mice, divided the test subjects into four groups:
- 12 young mice with induced high blood pressure
- 11 older mice with induced high blood pressure
- 13 young mice without induced high blood pressure
- 9 older mice without high blood pressure
According to the results, the young mice with induced hypertension had a 24% reduction in bone volume, an 18% reduction in the thickness of the trabecular bone, and a 34% reduction in the ability of bones to withstand different types of force.
“In these mice, being hypertensive at a younger age essentially aged bones as if they were 25 human years older,” said Elizabeth Hennen, lead author of the study and Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. “Old mice will experience bone loss whether they are hypertensive or not. This study shows that [high blood pressure] may trigger a pathway like age-related bone loss, effectively aging young bones.”
In addition, the scientists saw inflammation-signaling molecules that indicated increased inflammation when compared to the young, healthier mice. “It has become clear that [high blood pressure] is at least partly an inflammatory disease. We found that both [high blood pressure] and aging activate certain cells implicated in both [high blood pressure] and osteoporosis,” Hennen explained.
Hypertension and Bone Health
“High blood pressure may be more likely to alter the blood supply to the bone and bone marrow, which can possibly stimulate inflammatory mediators,” says Dr. Ragavendra Baliga, a specialist in cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“The theory is that younger mice have a low inflammatory burden. When increasing their angiotensin II level, we make them hypertensive. There is evidence that hypertension is a pro-inflammatory state,” says Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California. “Since the young mice were not exposed to significant inflammation prior, the acute inflammatory load might be overwhelming to the bone, leading to processes that favor bone loss.”
Reducing Your Risk
If you want to reduce your risk of osteoporosis, you should stay physically active, limit your alcohol intake, avoid smoking, eat a well-balanced diet that’s rich in calcium and vitamin D, and take prescription medications as necessary. Moreover, following most of these tips will also help improve your blood pressure health.
If you want to give your circulatory health an extra boost, consider taking supplements like HeartBeet Complete. Its ingredients promote circulation, blood pressure health, energy levels, and more. Give yourself the support you need by practicing healthy habits and taking HeartBeet Complete.
