Scientists from the University of São Paulo found that exposure to cigarette smoke causes changes in bone structure. The research was published in the journal scientific reports.
In the new study, the researchers used tissue samples from the femoral head of individuals who had undergone total hip replacement surgery.
The results showed that bone volume was significantly lower in smokers than in non-smokers, and the percentage of type I collagen in smokers and ex-smokers was lower than in non-smokers. Previous studies by the authors of the new paper have shown that exposure to cigarette smoke reduces type I collagen deposition and exacerbates bone demineralization, resulting in bone fragility. Type I collagen is the most abundant protein in bone tissue.
In contrast, the percentage of type V collagen was higher in tissue samples from smokers. Smokers also had high levels of inflammatory biomarkers: IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α. This may indicate the mass death of cells responsible for bone regeneration and healing of injuries.
The results of the study could form the basis of drugs for the treatment of bone fragility in the future.