Cadmium exposure and bone health in older adults

Urine cadmium and risk of fracture and bone loss

['FUNDING_R01'] · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · NIH-11184369

This project looks at whether long-term cadmium exposure is linked to bone loss and fractures in older men and women.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorSTATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK (nih funded)
Locations1 site (STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11184369 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Researchers will measure cadmium in stored urine samples from two large U.S. aging cohorts and link those levels to changes in bone density and recorded fractures over time. The work combines lab testing for urinary cadmium with bone scans and clinical follow-up data from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) and the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF). Follow-up covers up to about 20 years to capture long-term bone outcomes. The goal is to see if people with higher long-term cadmium exposure had more bone loss or more fractures.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Older adults aged 65 and older, particularly postmenopausal women and older men concerned about low bone density or past fractures, are the most relevant group for these findings.

Not a fit: Younger people or those whose bone problems are clearly unrelated to environmental exposures may not get direct benefit from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If cadmium is shown to raise fracture risk, the findings could lead to prevention steps or public-health guidance to reduce exposure and protect older adults' bones.

How similar studies have performed: Prior cross-sectional studies have linked cadmium to low bone density and fractures, but large long-term prospective studies like this are uncommon.

Where this research is happening

STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.