Bone mineral density in Turkish postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the bone mineral density curve in Turkish postmenopausal women and to evaluate the efficacy of estrogen replacement therapy in the prevention of bone loss.


METHODS
Spinal bone mineral density was measured using dual photon absorptiometry in 118 postmenopausal women, prospectively. Parity, previous and current use of estrogen preparations were correlated with BMD using Student's t-test and the chi 2-test.


RESULTS
With a mean BMD value of 0.967 +/- 0.013 g/cm2, 62.5% of our postmenopausal study population had a mean BMD value of < 1.0 g/cm2 and 33.7% were already osteoporotic (< 0.9 g/cm2). Bone loss was faster and more intense in the surgically menopausal than in the naturally menopausal group (P < 0.05). Parity after the fourth delivery dropped the mean BMD value (P < 0.05). Previous and current use of estrogen treatment seemed to decrease bone mineral loss in the postmenopausal years.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data stress the need for locally obtained normal BMD values in every country in the world. High parity, surgical menopause and duration of 5 or more years of natural menopause are risk factors for bone loss. Estrogen replacement diminishes the annual bone loss.
Biberoğlu
K O
KO
Gazi University Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey.
Yildiz
A
A
Kandemir
O
O
D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010298:Parity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology; D014421:Turkey
D004967:Estrogens; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate