Associations between endogenous sex hormone levels and mammographic and bone densities in premenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
Mammographic breast and bone mineral densities (BMD) have been associated with luteal phase hormone concentrations in premenopausal women. We assessed the associations of breast and bone densities with follicular phase hormones and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in premenopausal women, given that follicular phase hormones have been shown to be positively associated with premenopausal breast cancer risk.


METHODS
One hundred and ninety-two 40-45-year-old women provided a spot urine and/or blood sample during the follicular phase. Hormone and SHBG concentrations, and bone density were measured and routine mammograms were accessed and digitized to obtain breast density measures. Regression models were fit to assess the associations between hormones and SHBG, and breast and bone densities.


RESULTS
Positive associations were observed between percent breast density and SHBG (p trend = 0.02), as well as estradiol (p trend = 0.08), after controlling for body mass index (BMI), number of pregnancies, and breast feeding history. In addition, a statistically significant inverse association was observed between total testosterone and head BMD (p trend = 0.01), after controlling for BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
Associations were observed between breast and bone densities, and serum hormone concentrations during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.
Yong
Mellissa
M
Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. myong@fhcrc.org
Atkinson
Charlotte
C
Newton
Katherine M
KM
Aiello Bowles
Erin J
EJ
Stanczyk
Frank Z
FZ
Westerlind
Kim C
KC
Holt
Victoria L
VL
Schwartz
Stephen M
SM
Leisenring
Wendy M
WM
Lampe
Johanna W
JW
D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D017697:Premenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism*
D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin