title: Role of serum FSH measurement on bone resorption in postmenopausal women.
abstract: In vitro and animals models have shown follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) effects on osteoclastic function, and FSH levels seem to influence bone loss independently of estrogen concentrations in humans. Our aim was to evaluate the role of serum FSH measurement in the assessment of bone resorption in postmenopausal women. We conducted a cross-sectional study including 92 postmenopausal healthy women aged 56.2 (3.6) and 7.2 (4) years since menopause. Serum FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and bone turnover markers as osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) were measured. We analyzed the relationship between serum levels of gonadotropins, E2, and bone turnover markers. Serum levels of OC and CTX were positively related to FSH (r = 0.234, P = 0.047 and r = 0.384, P = 0.003) and LH (r = 0.319, P = 0.012 and r = 0.273, P = 0.038). There was no relationship with E2 levels. When gonadotropins levels were divided into quartiles, we found significant differences in bone turnover markers between the first and the fourth quartile. OC levels were higher in the highest quartile of FSH (P = 0.024) and LH (P = 0.001). Serum CTX was also higher in the highest quartile of FSH (P = 0.004) and LH (P = 0.039). FSH levels could explain approximately 14.7% of the chances in CTX. In summary, gonadotropins were related to bone turnover in postmenopausal healthy women. Moreover, the rise in FSH appears to contribute to higher bone resorption. Our results suggest that the measurement of FSH could be usefulness to perform a more comprehensive assessment of bone loss in these women.
authors.affiliation: Bone Metabolic Unit, Endocrinology Division, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Avenida Doctor Olóriz 16, 18012 Granada, Spain. garciamartin_t@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Martín
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reyes-García
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Castro
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rozas-Moreno
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Escobar-Jiménez
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Torres
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D015675:Osteocalcin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone