Children and adolescents who take medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show decreased bone density, according to a large cross-sectional study presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in Orlando.
Researchers identified 5,315 pediatric patients in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and compared children who were taking an ADHD medication (methylphenidate, desmethylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, atomoxetine, or lisdexamfetamine) with those who were not.
Children taking ADHD medication had lower bone mineral density in the femur, femoral neck, and lumbar spine. Approximately 25% of survey participants who were taking ADHD medication met criteria for osteopenia.
Researchers were able to rule out other potential causes of low bone density in these children, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, and poverty levels. However, the study did not include information on dose, duration of use, or changes in therapy because of the limitations of the NHANES survey data.