Eliminating smoking and excess alcohol consumption in teenage males could result in a small, yet significant, reduction in their future risk of fractures, a study suggests.

UK-led researchers have examined whether muscle strength and lifestyle factors are associated with fracture in a prospective study linking data from more than 40,000 military conscripts to a national patient register.

At baseline in 1969-70, most of the men were aged 18, their median alcohol intake was 54g per week (equivalent to about five standard drinks) and 41% described themselves as non-smokers.

Over a median follow-up of 17 years, 3974 men sustained at least one fracture, most of which occurred in the ankle, ribs or distal forearm.