title: Risk factors for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
abstract: Fifty-eight women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (crush fracture of the spine) were compared with 58 age-matched normal women. The osteoporotic women had lower total-body calcium levels and bone mineral content of the radius, had undergone an earlier menopause, smoked cigarettes more, and had breast-fed less often. They also had lower levels of estrone, estradiol, and testosterone and reduced levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. These findings suggest the presence of changeable risk factors for the development of osteoporosis. Smoking should be discouraged. An adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D should be ensured. It is the opinion of the authors that those women who have had an early menopause or who have a low bone mass at the time of menopause should be given the choice of medically supervised replacement therapy with estrogen and progesterone.
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones; D002118:Calcium; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D014807:Vitamin D; D013739:Testosterone; D002118:Calcium