Objective To investigate the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women in Urumqi. Methods A total of 66 middle-aged and elderly postmenopausal women in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were selected. According to the diagnosis criteria of NAFLD, all the subjects were divided into the NAFLD group (34 cases) and the normal control group (32 cases). The data including the ratio of CT values of the liver and the spleen, BMD, the height, the weight, and the blood biochemical indexes of all the subjects were collected and statistically analyzed. Results The body mass index (BMI) and the concentrations of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), triglyceride (TG), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in the NAFLD group were higher than those in the control group, while the concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and the hip in the NAFLD group was lower than that in the control group, but no statistical difference was observed (P>0.05). The ratio of CT values of the liver and the spleen was positively correlated with BMD of the greater trochanter and the total hip in the NAFLD group. The concentrations of ALT and AST were positively correlated with BMD of the femoral neck, the Ward's triangle, and the total hip in the NAFLD group. The concentration of FBG in the NAFLD group was positively correlated with BMD of the femoral neck and the Ward's triangle (P<0.05). The concentration of LDL in the control group was positively correlated with BMD of the femoral neck and the Ward's triangle, while the concentration of lipoprotein (a) [LP(a)] was negatively correlated with BMD of each site of the hip (P<0.05). Conclusion Hepatic steatosis could lead to reduced BMD of the hip, while hyperglycemia may have protective effect on the hip BMD in postmenopausal women with NAFLD. LP(a) may be a risk factor for the hip BMD reduction in postmenopausal women without NAFLD. NAFLD may change the effect of ALT, AST, LDL, LP (a), and blood glucose on the hip BMD in postmenopausal women. |