title: One-year spinal bone change in pre- and perimenopausal Japanese women. A prospective observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective observational study was designed to determine whether the bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine decreases before menopause.
  
  
  METHODS
  The change in BMD of the second through fourth lumbar vertebrae (delta%L2-4BMD) over the course of 12 months was measured in 197 pre- and perimenopausal Japanese women aged 48.2 +/- 2.3 (mean +/- SD) years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, delta%L2-4BMD decreased significantly, with a greater decrease seen in perimenopausal women. This group also had a significantly higher level of FSH (p < 0.05, t = 7.356), a significantly lower level of estradiol (p < 0.05, t = 4.245), and significantly higher levels of the bone metabolic markers, alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.05, t = 3.841), calcium (p < 0.05, t = 3.939), and osteocalcin (p < 0.05, t = -3.295). Overall, there was a significant positive correlation between osteocalcin and delta%L2-4BMD (r = -0.194, p = 0.0479).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A subset of perimenopausal women with transient decreases in ovarian function that do not respond to increased FSH may be at increased risk for abnormally low BMD, and may benefit from early management of bone mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komukai
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makita
authors.forename: Shigehisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanamoto
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takamatsu
authors.forename: Hiroya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: Masazumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yajima
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nozawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D015519:Bone Density; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D017697:Premenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015675:Osteocalcin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium