TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex Steroids and Bone Density in Premenopausal and Perimenopausal Women
AU - Steinberg, K. K.
AU - Freni-Titulaer, L. W.
AU - Depuey, E. G.
AU - Miller, D. T.
AU - Sgoutas, D. S.
AU - Coralli, C. H.
AU - Phillips, D. L.
AU - Rogers, T. N.
AU - Clark, R. V.
PY - 1989/9
Y1 - 1989/9
N2 - Bone density begins to decline in women before menopause, and the degree of bone loss is variable. We performed a cross-sectional analysis on the entry data of a 5-yr prospective study of risk factors for osteoporosis to determine the correlation of bone density with serum sex steroid concentrations and body weight. We studied 292 healthy white women, aged 35-50 yr, who were menstruating regularly or had had menses in the past 12 months. Blood samples were drawn in the early follicular phase for estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Free levels of E2 (FE2) and T (FT) were calculated based on total T and E2, SHBG, and albumin levels. Women were classified as premenopausal (FSH, < 12 U/L) and perimenopausal (FSH <12 U/L; n = 46; 16%). Bone density was measured by dual photon absorptiometry of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and hip and by single photon absorptiometry of the wrist. Perimenopausal women were older than premenopausal women (45.5±3.5 and 41.0±3.9 yr, respectively), but did not differ in height or weight. While bone density did not correlate with age in each group, perimenopausal women had significantly lower bone density at the L2-L4 and femoral neck (L2-L4, 1.18±0.14 in perimenopausal and 1.24±0.12 g/cm2 in premenopausal women; femur, 0.84±0.11 in perimenopausal and 0.90 ±0.11 g/cm2 in premenopausal women; P < 0.005). Body weight showed the strongest positive correlation with bone density. Log FT, percent FT, and FE2 percent correlated positively with bone density, even after controlling for weight. Log SHBG was negatively correlated with bone density in premenopausal women at the hip and wrist after controlling for weight. FSH was inversely correlated with bone density, and E2 and T were lower in perimenopausal than premenopausal women. These data suggest that women who are still menstruating may have relative deficiencies in both E2 and T, with reduced bone densities as a consequence.
AB - Bone density begins to decline in women before menopause, and the degree of bone loss is variable. We performed a cross-sectional analysis on the entry data of a 5-yr prospective study of risk factors for osteoporosis to determine the correlation of bone density with serum sex steroid concentrations and body weight. We studied 292 healthy white women, aged 35-50 yr, who were menstruating regularly or had had menses in the past 12 months. Blood samples were drawn in the early follicular phase for estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Free levels of E2 (FE2) and T (FT) were calculated based on total T and E2, SHBG, and albumin levels. Women were classified as premenopausal (FSH, < 12 U/L) and perimenopausal (FSH <12 U/L; n = 46; 16%). Bone density was measured by dual photon absorptiometry of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and hip and by single photon absorptiometry of the wrist. Perimenopausal women were older than premenopausal women (45.5±3.5 and 41.0±3.9 yr, respectively), but did not differ in height or weight. While bone density did not correlate with age in each group, perimenopausal women had significantly lower bone density at the L2-L4 and femoral neck (L2-L4, 1.18±0.14 in perimenopausal and 1.24±0.12 g/cm2 in premenopausal women; femur, 0.84±0.11 in perimenopausal and 0.90 ±0.11 g/cm2 in premenopausal women; P < 0.005). Body weight showed the strongest positive correlation with bone density. Log FT, percent FT, and FE2 percent correlated positively with bone density, even after controlling for weight. Log SHBG was negatively correlated with bone density in premenopausal women at the hip and wrist after controlling for weight. FSH was inversely correlated with bone density, and E2 and T were lower in perimenopausal than premenopausal women. These data suggest that women who are still menstruating may have relative deficiencies in both E2 and T, with reduced bone densities as a consequence.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0024422877&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1210/jcem-69-3-533
DO - 10.1210/jcem-69-3-533
M3 - Article
C2 - 2527242
AN - SCOPUS:0024422877
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 69
SP - 533
EP - 539
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 3
ER -