Osteoprotegerin--does it play a protective role in the pathogenesis of bone loss in obese perimenopausal women?
BACKGROUND
Assessment of serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) concentrations in obese patients in comparison to healthy controls and evaluation of a possible correlation between OPG and other markers of bone turnover or calcitropic hormones.


METHODS
50 obese perimenopausal women without concomitant diseases (BMI 36.7 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2), mean age 50.4 +/- 4.9 yrs). The control group consisted of 19 healthy women (BMI 24.2 +/- 2.1 kg/m(2); mean age 53.8 +/- 5.1 yrs). In all patients serum concentration of OPG, C telopeptide of type I collagen containing the crosslinking site (CTX), osteocalcin, parathormone (PTH) and vitamin D (25-OH-D(3)) was assessed. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (the DXA method) of the lumbar spine and femoral neck was performed using a Lunar DPXL to measure bone marrow density (BMD).


RESULTS
In obese perimenopausal women serum OPG, osteocalcin and 25-OH-D(3) levels were significantly lower, and the serum PTH level was significantly higher in comparison to healthy controls. A significantly positive correlation was found between serum OPG level and age in both obese and control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The serum OPG level in obese perimenopausal women is significantly lower in comparison to healthy controls and does not correlate significantly with biochemical markers of bone turnover, calcitropic hormones and BMD. It probably cannot play a protective role in the pathogenesis of bone loss in obese perimenopausal women.
Holecki
Michał
M
Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice. holomed@poczta.onet.pl
Zahorska-Markiewicz
Barbara
B
Janowska
Joanna
J
Mizia-Stec
Katarzyna
K
Zak-Gołab
Agnieszka
A
Olszanecka-Glinianowicz
Magdalena
M
Wojaczyńska-Stanek
Katarzyna
K
Nieszporek
Teresa
T
Wiecek
Andrzej
A
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood
D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D015675:Osteocalcin; D002112:Calcifediol