Kicking the habit increases bone density
Prestwood et al, 2006, J Women’s Health 15:1141-1150

It’s never too late to quit smoking when it comes to bone density, according to a recent prospective study of postmenopausal women. And it doesn’t take long for benefits to begin to accrue.
 
Researchers assigned 152 women who smoked at least 10 cigarettes/day to behaviour counseling and either a placebo or nicotine patch (3 month treatment).
 
Those who quit for 1 year increased the BMD of their femoral trochanter and hip by an average of 2.9% and 1.52% respectively, versus 0.6% & 0.43% respectively in those who continued smoking.
 
The quitters also increased their bone alkaline phosphatase levels.
 
No significant changes were noted at the femoral neck, radius, spine, or in total body calculation, and the effects, though encouraging, were partially mediated by weight gain.
 
 
Relationship between adolescent amenorrhoea and climacteric osteoporosis
Csermely et al, April 2007, Maturitas, vol. 56, issue 4, pages 366-374
 
Objectives
The relationship between climacteric osteoporosis and disturbances in menstrual cycle during adolescence was examined.
 
Methods
771 questionnaires were shared out among women visiting the outpatient department for climacteric complaints for the first time between 2001 and 2004. Questions revealed the age, age of menarche and menopause, the regularity or irregularity of menstrual cycles during adolescence and adult ages. The bone mineral density was examined using DEXA method on the lumbar spine.
 
Results
635 of the 771 questionnaires were suitable for analysis. Osteoporosis was observed in 30.1% of the cases. Age, age at the menarche or at the menopause did not alter in the sub- group with or without osteoporosis. The incidence and severity of osteoporosis were significantly higher in patients reporting secondary amenorrhoea during adolescent ages ( 42.1%, average BMD of 71.6 ) compared to the patients with normal cycle ( 30.4%, average BMD of 84.8 ). No correlation between the occurrence of osteoporosis and the frequency of menstrual cycle during adulthood was observed.