Association between ghrelin levels and BMD: a cross sectional trial.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine whether the level of plasma total ghrelin varies with the menopause stage (pre-, peri-, and postmenopause).


METHODS
Women were divided in three groups: premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal. All participants had bone mineral densitometry and blood assay of plasma ghrelin, estradiol E2. Correlation between plasma ghrelin levels, their reproductive status and BMD was done.


RESULTS
The mean plasma level of ghrelin was significantly decreased in the perimenopausal and postmenopausal groups in comparison to the premenopausal group. A significant positive correlation was found between ghrelin and each of E₂ and BMD (at one or more of the three sites assessed) in all subjects, as well as, in peri- and postmenopausal women, whereas a significant negative correlation was found between ghrelin and FSH.


CONCLUSIONS
It may be assumed that ghrelin can affect BMD. Whether ghrelin and estrogen work independent or through convergent mechanisms needs further studies.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. olfat_noh@hotmail.com
Olfat
O
Nouh
Manal Mohsen
MM
Abd Elfattah
Amira Ahmed
AA
Hassouna
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000097:blood; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000737:chemistry; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D047648:Perimenopause; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011884:Radius / Q000737:chemistry
D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; C515349:GHRL protein, human; D054439:Ghrelin; D004958:Estradiol