Early bone mineral density decrease is associated with FSH and LH, not estrogen.
BACKGROUND
It remains unclear whether gonadotropins or estrogen is responsible for early bone mineral density (BMD) decrease in Chinese women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 368 healthy adult women, aged 35-60 years. We measured BMD, calculated BMD decrease rates (BDRs) and assessed serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E(2)) levels.


RESULTS
BDR was significantly negatively correlated with serum FSH (r=-0.429 to -0.622, all p=0.000) and LH (r=-0.359 to -0.526, all p=0.000). After adjustment for age and body mass index, the negative correlations of serum FSH and LH with BDR persisted, but there was no overall correlation between serum E(2) and BDR. Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis suggested that serum FSH is a negative determinant of BDR. Serum E(2) seems to be a positive determinant of BDR in a few parts of the skeleton.


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease of BMD during the menopause is associated with FSH and LH levels, rather than E(2) in Chinese women.
Institute of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiang-Ya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Xi-Yu
XY
Wu
Shan-Jiang
SJ
Yu
Hong
H
Zhang
Hui
H
Xie
Xiang-Hang
XH
Luo
Yi-Qun
YQ
Peng
Ling-Qing
LQ
Yuan
Ru-Chun
RC
Dai
Zhi-Feng
ZF
Sheng
Shi-Ping
SP
Liu
Xian-Ping
XP
Wu
Er-Yuan
EY
Liao
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology
D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone