Osteoporosis and Benign Positional Vertigo

Prior research has identified a possible association between osteopenia or osteoporosis and benign positional vertigo (BPV; Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2003; 112:885 and Otol Neurotol 2009; 30:95). To confirm this association, investigators compared bone mineral densitometry measurements of the lumbar spine and femur in 209 consecutive patients with BPV and in 202 controls.

Both osteopenia and osteoporosis were significantly more common in patients with BPV than in controls. Furthermore, osteopenia was more common in the group with recurrent BPV than in those with de novo BPV. The authors conclude that further research is needed to test whether restoring normal calcium metabolism can prevent recurrent BPV.