title: Relation between bone mass and catecholamines in the general population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relation between the sympathetic nervous system and bone metabolism has been known for some time, although diverse experimental studies do not show uniformity in their evaluation of the different data. The aim of this paper is to determine the relation between urinary catecholamines, as an expression of sympathetic activity, and bone mass among the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was made of 274 individuals (124 males and 150 females), who formed part of the Hortega cohort. All underwent measurement of fractionated catecholamines in urine (dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline) and calcaneal density, using a Pixi-Lunar (Lunar Corp., Madison, Wisc., USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The linear correlation study revealed a statistically significant association of dopamine with bone mass (r = 0. 229, p = 0.0001), which was not observed with the other catecholamines. The effect was shown in men (r = 0.184, p = 0.04) and women (r = 0.251, p = 0.002). When a multiple correlation analysis was performed, the effect of the dopamine (p = 0.038) persisted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that dopamine is an independent, positive variable for bone mass in men and women in the general population, and for the latter, it is independent of their hormonal state.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Service, Río Hortega University Hospital, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martín-Escudero
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pérez-Castrillón
authors.forename: Fernando Simal
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Delfín
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arzua-Mouronte
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellido Casado
authors.forename: Javier Mena
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martín
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines