Bone Mineral Density in Different Menopause Stages is Associated with Follicle Stimulating Hormone Levels in Healthy Women

Young-Min Park, Catherine M. Jankowski, Christine M. Swanson, Kerry L. Hildreth, Wendy M. Kohrt and Kerrie L. Moreau
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Young-Min Park: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Catherine M. Jankowski: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Christine M. Swanson: Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Kerry L. Hildreth: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Wendy M. Kohrt: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Kerrie L. Moreau: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: Although estradiol (E 2 ) has been believed to be the most critical factor in the menopause-associated decrease in bone mineral density (BMD), the role of increasing follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) during menopause is relatively unclear. We determined the extent to which hip and lumbar spine BMD differ among the stages of menopause in healthy women, and whether BMD is associated with FSH and E 2 levels. A cross-sectional study of 141 healthy women classified as premenopausal (Pre; 38 ± 6 yrs; mean ± SD, n = 30), early perimenopausal (EPeri; 50 ± 3yrs, n = 31), late perimenopausal (LPeri; 50 ± 4yrs, n = 30), early postmenopausal (EPost; 55 ± 3yrs, n = 24), or late postmenopausal (LPost; 62 ± 4 yrs, n = 26), was conducted. Spine/hip BMD and sex hormones were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and enzymatic/colorimetric methods, respectively. Compared to EPeri, spine BMD was lower ( p < 0.05) in LPeri, EPost, and LPost and hip BMD was lower ( p < 0.05) in EPost and LPost. BMD was inversely associated with FSH (spine: r = −0.341; hip: r = −0.271, p < 0.05) and directly associated with E 2 (spine: r = 0.274; hip: r = 0.256, p < 0.05). The menopause-related loss of spine and hip BMD is associated not only with low E 2 but also higher FSH. Future studies are essential to delineating the mechanisms by which FSH regulates bone health in aging women.

Keywords: perimenopause; bone mineral density; estrogen; follicle stimulating hormone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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