Objective:

During menopause, decrease in estrogen levels as well as in androgen levels is the main cause of mineral loss in bone. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between mineral density of femur neck-lumbar vertebral bones and endogen sex steroid hormone levels in postmenopausal healthy women.

Material-Method:

Estradiol[E2], total testosteron[TTE], free testosterone[FTE], dehydroepiandrostenedion sulfate[DHEAS], androstendione and sex hormone-binding globulin[SHBG] measurements were performed and lumbar(L1-L4) and femur neck T scores were calculated with dual energy x-ray absorbsiometry method in 415 postmenopausal healthy women who referred to our clinic between 2006 June and 2007 May. Intermeasurement relationships and correlations were also investigated.

Results:

The mean age was 55.08±6.74(35-82) years, mean lumbar vertebral T scores was –1.23±1.36(-1,85-3,00), mean femur neck T scores was –0.56±3.24(-4,40-2,99), mean body mass index(BMI) was 26.99±4.23(18,31-40,00) and mean years since menopause was 8.90±7.20(1,00-50,00) years. In Pearson correlation analysis, lumbar vertebral T score correlated with age(p<0.001;r=-0.203), years since menopause(p<0.001;r=-0.190), BMI(p=0.004;r=0.141) and DHEAS(p=0.024;r=0.112). Femur neck T score correlated with BMI(p=0.028;r=-0.108) and DHEAS(p=0.022;r=0.114). In multiregression analysis, when lumbar vertebral T score was an dependent variable, it showed a significant association with body mass index(p=0.028; β=0.131) and years since menopause (p=0.048; β=-0.149) independently. When Femur neck T score was dependent variable, it showed a significant association with TTE(p=0.001; β=0.267), SHBG(p=0.001; β=-0.432) and free androgen index (p=0.005; β=0.407) independently.

Conclusion:

In postmenopausal women, level of gonadal hormones is one of factors that determine osteoporosis. According to this study, androgenic parameters such as TTE, free androgen index and SHBG are associated with the bone mineral density at femur neck in postmenopausal healthy women. On other hand DHEAS has been found to be associated with bone mineral density both at femur neck and lumbar spine.

Keywords: Postmenopause, BoneDensity, Gonadal Sex steroids