Natural history of bone loss over 6 years among premenopausal and early postmenopausal women

The aims of this prospective cohort study were to determine rates of premenopausal and early postmenopausal bone loss, age at onset of bone loss, and whether rates of bone loss depend on baseline bone mineral density (BMD). The cohort of 614 women aged 24-44 years at baseline from the longitudinal Michigan Bone Health Study was followed for 6 years beginning in 1992-1993. Up to five BMD measurements of the lumbar spine (L(2-4)) and the femoral neck were obtained through 1998-1999 by using dual x-ray absorptiometry and were standardized (as z scores) relative to a young adult, female BMD distribution. Regression models were used to estimate rates of BMD change and to examine BMD as a function of age. At the lumbar spine, the rate of BMD change for premenopausal women varied with time. At the femoral neck, the rate of change was -1.6% (95% confidence interval: -0.9%, -2.3%) of a z score annually (annual loss of 0.3% of baseline BMD (g/cm(2))). Evidence for age at onset of bone loss at the lumbar spine was inconclusive. Bone loss began by the midtwenties at the femoral neck. Additional annual change of -0.7% (95% confidence interval: -0.2%, -1.2%) of a z score was observed at the femoral neck for each unit increase in BMD z score at baseline.     

Children who avoid drinking cow milk have low dietary calcium intakes and poor bone health

BACKGROUND: Information concerning the adequacy of bone mineralization in children who customarily avoid drinking cow milk is sparse. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate dietary calcium intakes, anthropometric measures, and bone health in prepubertal children with a history of long-term milk avoidance. DESIGN: We recruited 50 milk avoiders (30 girls, 20 boys) aged 3-10 y by advertisement. We measured current dietary calcium intakes with a food-frequency questionnaire and body composition and bone mineral density with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and compared the results with those of 200 milk-drinking control children. RESULTS: The reasons for milk avoidance were intolerance (40%), bad taste (42%), and lifestyle choice (18%). Dietary calcium intakes were low (443 +/- 230 mg Ca/d), and few children consumed substitute calcium-rich drinks or mineral supplements. Although 9 children (18%) were obese, the milk avoiders were shorter (P < 0.01), had smaller skeletons (P < 0.01), had a lower total-body bone mineral content (P < 0.01), and had lower z scores (P < 0.05) for areal bone mineral density at the femoral neck, hip trochanter, lumbar spine, ultradistal radius, and 33% radius than did control children of the same age and sex from the same community. The z scores for volumetric (size-adjusted) bone mineral density (g/cm(3)) were -0.72 +/- 1.17 for the lumbar spine and -0.72 +/- 1.35 for the 33% radius (P < 0.001). Twelve children (24%) had previously broken bones. CONCLUSIONS: In growing children, long-term avoidance of cow milk is associated with small stature and poor bone health. This is a major concern that warrants further study.     

Mother-daughter pairs: spinal and femoral bone densities and dietary intakes

Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femur (femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and trochanter) was measured in 37 healthy, white mother-daughter pairs by dual-photon absorptiometry. Mothers and daughters were aged 52 +/- 7 and 25 +/- 4 y (mean +/- SD), respectively. Three-day dietary intakes were evaluated. Significant correlations between mother-daughter pairs for BMD of all lumbar and femoral areas [except for L2 (r = 0.26, P = 0.054)] indicated familial resemblances in bone mineralization. Total calcium intake was significantly correlated with three BMD values for the daughters (L2, femoral neck, and trochanter) but not for the mothers. When mothers were classified as pre- (n = 20) or postmenopausal (n = 17), correlation coefficients for BMD were higher for premenopausal mothers and their daughters and lower for postmenopausal mothers and their daughters, except for the trochanter. The results suggest that the nature of inheritance of bone mass of women may have at least two components, one influencing the level of peak bone mass and one related to bone loss at menopause.     

Effects of body mass index on bone mineral density in men

INTRODUCTION: A strong positive association between body mass index and bone mineral density is well defined in postmenopausal osteoporosis, but not in men. AIMS: The primary goal of the current research was to investigate this association in case of men. METHODS: According to WHO criteria (T-score below -1.0 at all measure site) seventy-two (mean age 55.7 +/- 0.99, range 38-78 yr normal density) healthy male with normal density were recruited. Exclusion criteria were the absence of any risk factors or signs of metabolic disease. Bone mineral measurements at the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck were performed by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA, Lunar DPX-L, USA), bone mineral content of the non-dominant radius was measured with single photon absorptiometry (SPA, NK-364, Hungary). Participants were divided into three groups according to body mass index normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), moderate overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2) and obese subjects (> 30 kg/m2). RESULTS: Femur neck density was significantly lower in the normal weight than in the overweight counterparts (0.969 +/- 0.03 vs 1.062 +/- 0.02 p = 0.01). There was a strong positive association between BMI and femur neck BMD (r = 0.412 p < 0.001). Body mass was an independent predictor of femur neck bone mineral density (regression coefficients 0.382, p = 0.001). There was not correlation at the lumbar spine and the radius sites. CONCLUSION: Bone density at femur neck sites is lower in the normal weight men than in obese subjects, therefore the risk factors for proximal femur osteoporosis are higher in these cases. Prevention strategy is needed for men in the lowest quintile of body mass to prevent further decrease in BMD and reduce the risk of hip fracture.     

Maternal weight and lean body mass may influence the lactation-related bone changes in young undernourished Indian women

Lactation is known to be associated with a transient loss of bone mineral density (BMD) during 3-6 months post-partum. Bone changes during lactation in women consuming low dietary calcium are not sufficiently studied. The present longitudinal study examined the BMD changes during lactation in undernourished women and the relationship of bone changes to the nutritional status. Whole-body bone mineral content and BMD at hip, lumbar spine and forearm were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in thirty-six lactating women from the low socio-economic group at four time points -- within 1 month after delivery (baseline), and at 6, 12 and 18 months after delivery. Maternal body composition and biochemical parameters of bone metabolism were estimated at the same time. It was observed that femoral neck BMD reduced by 4.6 % at 6 months, but recovery to the baseline was incomplete at 18 months with a deficit of 2 %. Hip BMD reduction at 6 months was transient. Lumbar spine BMD did not show significant loss at 6 months and BMD increased by 3.6 and 6.3 % at 12 and 18 months, respectively. Regression analyses indicated that baseline lean mass was the most important determinant of bone preservation at femoral neck, hip as well as whole body, whereas baseline body weight was the most important determinant of per cent gain in lumbar spine. Maternal nutritional status as indicated by body weight and lean mass appears to influence the lactation-related BMD changes in undernourished women from the low socio-economic group in India.     

Reduced spinal and femoral bone mass and deranged bone mineral metabolism in chronic alcoholics.

Prevalence and factors which may influence the development of osteoporosis have been assessed in 32 chronic alcoholic males by measuring the bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and femoral neck by dual photon absorptiometry. Serum bone Gla-protein, as an index of bone formation, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, testosterone and cortisol levels were also measured. Eleven patients (34%) had osteoporosis. In seven the lumbar BMD was below the fracture threshold. Lumbar and femoral neck age-matched BMD were below mean normal values in 20 and in 23 patients, respectively. Moreover, the age-matched BMD was significantly lower in the femoral neck (91.7 +/- 14.4%) than in the lumbar spine (100.1 +/- 17.1%) (P < 0.001). Duration of alcoholism was significantly higher in patients with age-matched BMD below 100% than in those with age-matched BMD above 100%. Bone GLA-protein and 25- hydroxyvitamin D were below normal levels in 67% and 56% of patients, respectively. Serum testosterone was normal in all but two patients, and cortisol was within normal values in all patients tested. In addition a direct correlation was found between the days of abstinence before the study and serum levels of bone GLA-protein (r = 0.64, P < 0.001). In conclusion, chronic alcoholics frequently have bone loss of the lumbar spine and femoral neck related with the duration of alcohol intake. The correlation between bone-GLA protein levels and the days of abstinence suggests that alcohol directly depresses bone formation. Likewise, the low levels of vitamin D also support that this deficiency may contribute to the development of osteopenia in chronic alcoholism.     

Bone mineral content in patients on home parenteral nutrition

Bone mineral content (BMC) was monitored in 15 patients with short bowel syndrome receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Thirteen patients had Crohn's disease and 2 ulcerative colitis (mean age 36 years, range 23-69 years). During the study the patients received HPN for a mean period of 62 months, range 20-106 months. At the time of inclusion the patients had a significantly reduced BMC of lumbar spine and femoral neck compared to normals (Z-scores = -3.35 +/- 3.49, p < 0.05 and Z-score = -2.23 +/- 2.11, p < 0.05). During HPN the Z-score of lumbar spine BMC decreased in 8 patients and increased slightly or was unchanged in 7 patients. The mean Z-score of BMC of lumbar spine declined by 1.46 +/- 2.48 (p < 0.05) and the Z-score of femoral neck BMC declined by 0.831 +/- 1.14 (p < 0.05). This corresponds to a yearly decrease of lumbar spine BMC of 4%. There was no correlation between the decline in BMC during the study and the period of length the patients were on HPN. We conclude that patients on HPN have a low bone mineral density and that the bone loss continues during prolonged HPN.     

Bone mineral density in adults in Taiwan: results of the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan 2005-2008 (NAHSIT 2005-2008)

Osteoporosis is one of the most prevalent global health problems in the elderly. A nationwide representative sample of 1121 adult subjects, aged 19 years and older, were scanned by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the third survey year of Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan 2005-2008. There was an apparent gender difference in the trend of bone mineral density (BMD) with age. In males, the decrease in BMD with age at lumbar spine and at femoral neck were statistically significant in those younger than 50 years, whereas the decrease in BMD at forearm was significant only in those aged 50 years and older (β= -0.005, p<0.0001). In females there was a significant negative correlation between BMD at femoral neck and age (β= -0.004, p<0.0001). In the 236 subjects aged 50 years and older, the prevalence rates of osteoporosis were 4.3% at lumbar spine, 12.0% at femoral neck, and 11.6% at forearm in males, and 12.6% at lumbar spine, 18.1% at femoral neck, and 25.0% at forearm in females, respectively. The prevalence rates of osteoporosis at any site were 23.9% in males and 38.3% in females, respectively. The prevalence rates of low bone mass at lumbar spine, femoral neck, and forearm were 28.8%, 57.5%, and 22.7% in males and 34.7%, 45.9%, and 26.1% in females, respectively. Effective measures to maintain bone health and/or to reduce excessive bone loss may be important in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in Taiwanese adults.     

Mean value of bone mineral content in Hungary measured by dual-photon absorptiometry]

Bone mineral content and density of the lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in normal volunteers (89 women, 77 men) in different age groups. Peak values in both sexes occurred in the 3rd decade and are about 25% higher in men than those in women. In women the bone loss begins around 40 years at lumbar spine and also at the femoral neck. The rate of bone loss in the 6th decade--according to the menopause--significantly accelerates. The diminution in the 8th decade is higher again. In men the decrease of the lumbar spine density is also significant in connection with the ageing process, but the rate of the bone loss is slower, than in women. The femoral neck density and mineral content values begin to decrease at the 4th decade. The decrease of bone mineral content and density of femoral neck are equivalent in both sexes but some difference exists in the velocity. The data were compared with West-european values. The values of the femoral neck are lower, while those of the lumbar spine in the 5th decade in the female are higher in the Hungarian population. The reason of this difference may be the consequence of the obesity of the Hungarian female population.     

Association between urinary potassium, urinary sodium, current diet, and bone density in prepubertal children

BACKGROUND: Our understanding of the role of nutrients in bone development in children is limited. OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations between urinary potassium, urinary sodium, usual dietary intake, and bone mineral density (BMD) in prepubertal children. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of 330 boys and girls aged 8 y. Urinary measures were assessed in a single, timed, overnight urine specimen. Usual diet was assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire completed by a parent or guardian. BMD at the femoral neck, lumbar spine, and total body was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Urinary potassium correlated significantly with BMD at all sites (femoral neck: r = 0.20, P < 0.001; lumbar spine: r = 0.19, P = 0.001; total body: r = 0.24, P < 0.001). After adjustment for confounders (primarily lean body mass), this association was lower in magnitude but remained significant at 2 sites with a consistent trend at the third (femoral neck: P = 0.15; lumbar spine: P = 0.046; total body: P = 0.028). Urinary sodium was not associated with BMD at any site. No nutrient or food intake estimate was associated with BMD, although urinary potassium correlated significantly with potassium intake (r = 0.14, P = 0.016) and fruit and vegetable intake (r = 0.12, P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary potassium was associated with both dietary intake and BMD independent of lean body mass in these well-nourished, calcium-replete young children. These findings should be confirmed in further longitudinal studies. Nevertheless, this association is likely to represent dietary intake of potassium and suggests that measurement of urinary potassium is superior to food-frequency questionnaires for assessing potassium intake in this age group.     

两个新的钙感觉受体基因多态性与中国男性骨密度相关性研究

目的研究钙感觉受体(CaSR)基因两个新位点多态性与中国男性骨密度的关系。方法采用双能X线吸收仪对374名研究对象进行腰椎及股骨扫描，应用PCR-RFLP方法检测CaSR基因R990G和E1011Q两个多态位点基因型，用广义线性模型分析CaSR基因多态性与第2～4腰椎及股骨骨密度关系。结果在调整环境危险因素前后，均未发现CaSR基因的两个位点多态性与男性股骨颈、股骨柄和股骨三角区及第2～4腰椎的骨密度相关。结论在中国男性人群中CaSR基因R990C；和E1011Q位点多态性与股骨及腰椎骨密度无显著性相关。     

The effect of a one-year alendronate therapy on postmenopausal osteoporosis. (Results in Hungary of an international multicenter clinical study)

The FOSIT (Fosamax International Trial) was a placebo-controlled, double blind trial, to determine the effects of daily oral dose of 10 mg alendronate-sodium (Fosamax) or placebo, for one year in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. It was an international, multicenter study; the 153 centers distributed over 34 countries. The number of patients was 1908. Authors report the data of the only Hungarian study site, Debrecen. Twenty women [age (mean +/- SD) 62 +/- 8 years with bone mineral density--BMD--< or = 0.98 g/cm2 at the lumbar spine by LUNAR DPX densitometer] were enrolled into the study and randomly assigned to oral alendronate 10 mg daily or placebo (10 patients in each group). Patients in both groups received 500 mg of calcium. Bone density measurements were performed by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at months 0, 3, 6, and 12 at the lumbar spine and at the femoral neck. Biochemical indices of bone turnover [bone specific alkaline phosphatase (bAP) and urinary N-telopeptide/creatinine ratio (NTx/crea] were also measured every three months. Percent change of the BMD measurements from baseline at one-year in the alendronate group was +6% and in the placebo group -0.7% on the lumbar spine (p < 0.001). Alendronate treatment increased the bone mineral density in the femoral neck, the trochanter, the Ward's triangle and the total hip by +3.2, +1.6, +3.5, +2.2% respectively, meanwhile the changes in the placebo group were -1.2%; -0.7%; -0.9%; -0.8%, respectively, the difference was not significant. Urinary NTx/crea decreased by 70.6% in the alendronate group and by 9.4% in the placebo group, while bAP decreased by 47.4% in the alendronate group and 15.2% in the placebo group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, after one year of treatment with alendronate induced increase of bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and decreased the bone turnover as compared to the placebo group.     

Height reduction, determined using knee height measurement as a risk factor or predictive sign for osteoporosis in elderly women

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the value of height reduction, calculated using knee height measurement, as a risk factor or predictive sign for osteoporosis in healthy elderly women. METHODS: In 181 healthy women 76 +/- 5 y of age, height, weight, and knee height were evaluated. Femoral and spine bone mineral densities and body compositions were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In 76 young women 27 +/- 4 y of age, a regression equation to predict height, based on knee height, was derived. Using this equation, maximum attained height and height loss were calculated in elderly women, which was correlated to bone mineral density. RESULTS: The equation to predict height was height (cm) = knee height (cm) x 2.22 + 50.54. The calculated height loss in elderly women was -6.1 +/- 3.8 cm or -0.08 +/- 0.05 cm/y of age. Height loss and hip circumference were significant predictors of spine bone mineral density. In the case of femoral bone mineral density, to the same predictors, a negative effect of waist circumference was added. Women in the highest quintile of height reduction (>0.199 cm/y) had an odds ratio of 4.5 (95% confidence interval 1.56-13.3, P < 0.02) for femoral osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Knee height can be used as an accurate measurement of height loss in the elderly, which is a significant predictor of femur and spine bone mineral densities, in addition to hip circumference.     

Effect of a calcium and exercise intervention on the bone mineral status of 16-18-y-old adolescent girls

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis may be prevented or delayed by maximizing peak bone mass through diet modification and physical activity during adolescence. OBJECTIVE: We studied whether increases in calcium intake and physical activity effectively increase the bone mineral status of adolescent girls aged 16-18 y. DESIGN: We conducted a 15.5-mo study of calcium supplementation (1000 mg Ca/d as carbonate) in 144 adolescent girls aged 17.3 +/- 0.3 y ( +/- SD). The subjects were randomly allocated to an exercise (three 45-min exercise-to-music classes/wk during term time) or nonexercise group. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of the whole body, spine, forearm, and hip was performed before and after intervention. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) percentage of subjects compliant with supplement taking was 70 +/- 27% and with exercise class attendance was 36 +/- 25%. Baseline calcium intake was 938 +/- 411 mg/d. Calcium supplementation significantly increased size-adjusted bone mineral content. The effect was stronger in subjects with good compliance (percentage difference +/- SE): whole body, 0.8 +/- 0.3% (P < or = 0.01); lumbar spine, 1.9 +/- 0.5% (P < or = 0.001); ultradistal radius, 1.3 +/- 0.6% (P < or = 0.05); total hip, 2.7 +/- 0.6% (P < or = 0.001); femoral neck, 2.2 +/- 0.7% (P < or = 0.001); trochanter, 4.8 +/- 0.9% (P < or = 0.001). Attendance at > 50% of the exercise sessions was significant at the total hip (1.4 +/- 0.7%; P < or = 0.05) and trochanter (2.6 +/- 1.2%; P < or = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Calcium supplementation and exercise enhanced bone mineral status in adolescent girls. Whether this is a lasting benefit, leading to the optimization of peak bone mass and a reduction in fracture risk, needs to be determined.     

Sex differences in the effect of body-composition variables on bone mass in healthy children and adolescents

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic interventions against osteoporosis require a determination of the factors that influence the accumulation of bone mass during growth. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the independent sex-specific contribution of lean mass and fat mass to bone mineral content (BMC), after adjustment for anthropometric variables and lifestyle factors, in healthy children and adolescents. DESIGN: Healthy schoolchildren (184 boys and 179 girls) aged 10-17 y (x+/- SD: 13.0 +/- 2.1 y) participated in this cross-sectional study. Total and regional (lumbar spine, femoral neck, and distal one-third of the radius) BMC and body composition were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: A significant effect of anthropometric variables and lifestyle factors on BMC was observed at all skeletal sites. Lean mass and fat mass showed robust correlations with BMC, even after adjustment for anthropometric variables and lifestyle factors. Lean mass contributed to 6-12% of the variance in BMC in boys and to 4-10% in girls. Fat mass accounted for 0.1-2% of BMC variance in boys and to 0.1-6.5% in girls. CONCLUSIONS: Both lean mass and fat mass are consistent predictors of BMC at multiple skeletal sites in healthy children and adolescents. The contribution of lean mass to BMC variance was larger in boys than in girls. In both sexes, the highest contribution of lean mass to BMC was observed at the femoral neck.     

Calcium Intake, Vitamin D and Bone Health Status of Post-menopausal Chinese Women in Kuala Lumpur

Bone health status was investigated in 178 free-living Chinese post-menopausal women in Kuala Lumpur. Body mass index (BMI), body composition (using whole body DXA), calcium intake and serum 25-OH vitamin D status were measured along with biochemical markers of bone turnover, that is, pro-collagen Type 1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC) and C-telopeptide β cross link of Type 1 collagen (CTX- β). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using DXA (Hologic, USA) at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip. Results showed that osteopenia was present in 50% of the subjects at the spine and 57.9% at the femoral neck. Osteoporosis was diagnosed in 10% of the subjects at both the femoral neck and spine. A total of 29.3% of the subjects had high levels of CTX- β. Mean serum level of 25-OH vitamin D was 60.4+15.6 nmol/L and 50.6% of the subjects had hypovitaminosis D (defined as < 50 nmol/l). Mean total calcium intake of the subjects was 497 + 233 mg, of which only 14% met the RNI for calcium with the additional intake of calcium supplements. Body fat was also significantly correlated (r=0.181, p< 0.05) with BMD at the spine but not BMD at the femoral neck. Lean body mass was positively correlated with BMD at the spine (r=0.289, p< 0.001) and femoral neck (r=0.295, p< 0.001). CTX-β was negatively correlated with BMD at the spine (r= -0.235, p< 0.001), whereas P1NP (r=-0.215, p< 0.001) and osteocalcin (r=-0.265, p< 0.001) were both negatively correlated with BMD at the femoral neck. Generally, the study found that women with osteopenia had higher levels of bone turnover markers, less lean body mass and lower calcium intake than women with normal BMD. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the majority of free living Chinese post-menopausal women in Kuala Lumpur have low calcium intake, low 25-OH vitamin D status and low bone mass and elevated biochemical markers of bone turnover.     

Effect of progressive insulin resistance on the correlation of glucose metabolism and bone status

A paradox is hidden in the increasing number of patients with insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis, as the world wide diabetes epidemic is driven by the same obesity which protects the bones in the obese females. Our aim was to investigate the connection between the early glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and bone density and metabolism. After metabolic status of matched 20 healthy and 51 glucose intolerant women (age: 49 +/- 9 y.) was determined, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps were done, while adipo- and cytokine levels were measured. Bone mineral density over lumbar spine and the femur neck were measured by DEXA. No differences in bone density were observed between groups at any sites measured. Tight correlations were found between total body glucose utilization and bone density in healthy group (lumbar spine r = -0.4921, p < 0.05, femur neck: r = -0.4972, p < 0.05), while with deterioration of glucose metabolism this correlation disappeared (lumbar spine: r = -0.022, ns; femur neck: r = -0.3136, ns). The adiponectin was the only adipokine which correlated with lumbar spine density in both groups ( r = -0.5081, p < 0.05; -0.2804, p < 0.05), but not with femur density, where this connection disappeared with glucose intolerance ( r = -0.6742, p < 0.01; -0.1723, ns). Relations of bone metabolic markers indicated that bone resorption decreases with worsening of insulin resistance. In conclusion inverse correlations were found between bone density and glucose metabolism, or insulin sensitivity in healthy women in perimenopause, but this connection disappeared with the deterioration of glucose metabolism and progression of insulin resistance measured by the "gold standard" insulin-glucose clamps. Decreasing insulin sensitivity of bones and escape from "metabolic control" may result in frequently observed hyperdensity in Type 2 diabetics.     

Further evaluation on long-term depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate use and bone mineral density: a longitudinal cohort study

Cross-sectional studies on the effects of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on bone mineral density (BMD) have been controversial. The present longitudinal cohort study on 59 Chinese women over a period of 3 years has shown that their annual rate of bone loss at 3 sites (0.44% in lumbar spine, 0.40% in neck of femur, 1.05% in Ward's triangle) was substantially less than the projected values (1.1% in lumbar spine, 2.3% in neck of femur, 3.5% in Ward's triangle) in a cross-sectional study that had demonstrated a significant reduction in BMD in DMPA users than the non-user population. The trochanter BMD measurement did not show the projected annual bone loss of 2.4%. The rate of bone loss is probably non-linear, with a rapid loss in the first 5 years and a leveling off afterwards. The duration of DMPA use was not significantly correlated with the rate of bone loss. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that age and body mass index were significant variables in modeling the rate of bone loss in the lumbar spine and neck of femur, but not in the trochanter and Ward's triangle areas. The Z scores also suggested a retardation in bone loss with time and potentially due to the effect of progesterone in decreasing bone turnover that is similar to the situation in postmenopausal women. The present data provide another aspect of reassurance to the long-term use of DMPA.     

Effects of growth hormone replacement therapy in adults with severe growth hormone deficiency

The aim of the study was to analyse the effects of GH replacement therapy (1 year duration) on body composition, carbohydrate metabolism, thyroid hormone metabolism and bone mineral density in 8 adults with growth hormone deficiency (5 women, 3 men; mean age 40 years). Mean maintenance dose of GH was 1.5 IU/day-1.76 IU/day for women and 1.07 IU/day for men, respectively--determined according to individual patient requirements. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I standard deviation score increased from -5.4 to 0.0 (p < 0.001). There was a significant negative relationship between serum insulin-like growth factor-I standard deviation score at the start of therapy and the increase in this score (r = -0.85; p < 0.05). The waist:hip ratio decreased after 12 months by 0.039 (p < 0.05). The glycosylated hemoglobin increased (4.43 +/- 0.56% vs. 5.86 +/- 0.27; p < 0.05), and a negative correlation of the baseline glycosylated hemoglobin to the glycosylated hemoglobin increase was found (r = -0.88; p < 0.01). Both the free triiodothyronine and free triiodothyronine:free thyroxine ratio increased (3.09 +/- 0.22 vs. 4.17 +/- 0.40; p < 0.05, and 0.234 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.324 +/- 0.04; p < 0.01), and a positive relationship was observed between this ratio at the start of therapy and the increase in the ratio (r = 0.76, p < 0.05). The bone mineral density of lumbar spine and femoral neck expressed as z-score increased (-1.18 +/- 0.56 vs. -0.75 +/- 0.48; p < 0.01 and -0.06 +/- 0.60 vs. 0.43 +/- 0.43; p < 0.05), while the bone mineral density of forearm was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Growth hormone replacement leads to a decrease in visceral fat, modulates the thyroid hormone levels by increasing peripheral conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine and probably is a physiological regulator of peripheral thyroxine metabolism, slightly deteriorates the carbohydrate metabolism, and results in an increase of bone mineral density of lumbar spine and femoral neck.     

Osteopaenia of the lumbar spine and femoral neck in anorexia nervosa

The bone density in the spine, femoral neck and radius in 31 outpatients with anorexia nervosa (AN) was measured by photon absorptiometry and compared with 31 age matched controls. In all bone sites measured the patients with anorexia nervosa had reduced bone mineral density (spine- control 0.91 + .10 gHA/cm2, AN 0.75 + .09 gHA/cm2; femur- control 0.87 + .09 gHA/cm2, AN 0.67 + .07 gHA/cm2; radius-control 0.41 + .04 gHA/cm2, AN 0.38 + 0.9 gHA/cm2). The mean difference between the groups was greatest in the femoral neck at 0.21 gHA/cm2 (95% CI 0.18-.024 p less than 0.001) and least at the radius 0.04 gHA/cm2 (95% CI 0.02-0.06, p less than 0.05), the lumbar spine was intermediate with a mean difference of 0.16 gHA/cm2 (95% CI 0.12-0.2 p less than 0.001). Femoral and spinal bone mineral density was positively correlated with body mass and negatively correlated with duration of amenorrhoea. Three of these patients had vertebral crush fractures which suggests that this diminution in bone density is of clinical significance.