title: Coexistence of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease risk factors in apparently healthy, untreated postmenopausal women.
abstract: This study aimed to determine whether apparently healthy, untreated postmenopausal women at risk of osteoporosis relative to nonmenopausal women are concomitantly at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in terms of various aspects of lifestyle, personality, body shape and composition, and blood chemistry. Two homogeneous groups of 30 women having reached menopause for 3-5 years and 30 nonmenopausal controls, all non-estrogen users without apparent CVD risk factors, were compared in a cross-sectional design. Data related to physical activity, dietary intakes, personality type, anthropometry, and skinfold-thickness were collected. Plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and serum lipids were measured and used as biochemical predictors of osteoporosis and CVD, respectively. Compared to nonmenopausal controls, postmenopausal women were at greater risk of bone loss given their lower plasma IGF-1, lower physical activity level, and even given their higher serum lipids, as recent literature suggests. Moreover, their dietary calcium intake fulfilled only 70% of the current recommendation, which may reduce protection against osteoporosis and CVD (particularly hypertension) as well. The two groups did not differ regarding energy intake, body weight and frame size, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio (WHR). However, postmenopausal subjects had more adipose tissue and differed in terms of lifestyle factors (lower dietary lipids and greater alcohol consumption). While neither group was at particular risk of CVD according to waist circumference, WHR, and serum triglycerides, postmenopausal women were at risk according to percent body adiposity and serum cholesterol. This study shows that several risk factors for osteoporosis and CVD can coexist in apparently healthy postmenopausal women after a few years of natural menopause. It emphasizes the need for a timely screening that would stress both heart and bone risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Food Science and Nutrition, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada E1A 3E9. massep@umoncton.ca
authors.forename: Priscilla G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Massé
authors.forename: Carole C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tranchant
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dosy
authors.forename: Sharon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Donovan
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010551:Personality; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I