Loading...
Oral contraceptives (OCs) have been variously reported to have a positive, negative, or neutral effect on bone density. In a cross-sectional study of physically fit female cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, researchers examined the association between bone mass and multiple factors including OC use, lifestyle, and menstrual function.
Participants were 107 white, 13 black, and 15 Asian women; most analyses focused on data from the white women (mean age, 18.4; mean BMI, 23.0). About 77% of the white women reported >7 hours of weekly exercise, and all had an average daily calcium intake of 1000 mg. About 11% used OCs, and 34% reported a previous fracture. All races had significantly higher calcaneal, spine, and hip BMD than did …