Association of Endogenous Hormones and Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the association between endogenous hormones and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 798 postmenopausal women aged 47–85 years. Data were collected on age, age at menopause, years since menopause, smoking status, body mass index, adiposity, BMD, physical activity, and Vitamin D supplementation. Measured hormonal parameters were: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, ∆4-androstenedione, cortisol, insulin-like growth factor-1, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and parathormone (PTH) levels. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A directed acyclic graph was used to select potential confounding variables. Results: Multivariable analysis showed significant associations between cortisol and femoral neck BMD (β: −0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.03–−0.00), and PTH with femoral neck BMD (β: −0.01, 95% CI: −0.02–−0.01) and total hip BMD (β: −0.01, 95% CI: −0.01–−0.00). Hormonal factors more likely associated with a higher risk of low BMD (osteopenia or osteoporosis) were FSH (odds ratio [OR]: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.03) and PTH (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04). Conclusions: Higher cortisol and PTH levels were inversely associated with BMD. Postmenopausal women with higher FSH or PTH levels were likely to have low BMD.