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How Much Effect Do Steroids Have On Bone Growth?

Posted on Sat, 14 Nov 2015

Question: Dear Doctor, I would like to know more details about bone turnover. Apparently, for cortical bone 2-3% is replaced every year. Im really stressed because it means the steroids i took caused bone growth and this bone formed as result of steroids still present today ( due to low turnover). Please can you advise? Thanks and Regards

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
After puberty, less effect of sex hormones on bone remodelling

Detailed Answer:
Hi there.

Welcome to Healthcare Magic.

Thanks for the query.

Usually steroids have a major effect on the skeletal growth around the age of puberty or the time of the closing of the epiphyses. In girls, the epiphyses close earlier this reducing the bone turnover and bone length is shorter than the corresponding male equivalent. This is why girls are usually shorter than their male counterparts because more Oestrogen in their blood stream cause earlier epiphyseal closure.

In men, there is less Oestrogen so the epiphyseal closure occurs later and so boys are correspondingly taller.

It has been seen in research that there are Testosterone and Oestrogen receptors in the bones and both these hormones influence the growth and the bone mineral density but not enough work had been done to ascertain the exact effect on the growth.

If you are healthy and do not suffer from any side effects then it is best to believe that the normal circadian rhythm of the hormones will govern the bone growth and turnover as you mentioned without any exogenous steroid intake. Usually after the epiphyseal closure, sex hormones don't have a major effect on bone growth of turnover.

I hope I have answered your query.

I will be available to answer your follow up queries.

Regards,

Dr. Aashish Raghu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Aashish Raghu (36 minutes later)

Dear Dr. XXXXXXX Thanks for the reply.

Actually i should mention i took steroids DURING growth period. I was 15 and at same time i experienced sponatanous puberty while also taking steroids. So im confused who and to what degree the steroids was responsible for the growth. I went from 150cm to 159cm.

Secondly, could you clarify a point for me please. They say cortical bone has 3% turnover per year. And total cortical bone in our body is 75% . But how do we view this, is it 3% every year until reaches 75% or reaches 100% ?

Thanks and Best Regards,

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
3% remodelling of all the bone vortices in the body

Detailed Answer:
Every bone has an outer cortex and am inner medulla. Some bones like the vertebrae, pelvis, sternum have thinner cortex and more inner medulla. That means in total about 75% our our body houses cortical bone.

3% cortical bone turnover means all the cortical bones replenish by 3% of their mass every year.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Aashish Raghu (2 hours later)

Thanks.

Why do some literature state 'skeleton is replaced every ten years' ?

It seems corticol bone replaces every 33 years...Please can you advise?

Thanks and Regards

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No major change in skeletal architecture

Detailed Answer:
The older cells replenish to new ones and hence the strength isn't compromised by older cortical cells.

This is why born turnover is necessary. This turnover will not change the skeletal design but simply maintain the strength.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T