Ghrelin and Obestatin Levels in Serum and Saliva of Patients with Osteoporosis and the Effect of Strontium Ranelate

Abstract

Objective: It is known that Ghrelin and obestatin have effects on bone metabo lism. In this prospective study it is aimed to assess serum and saliva ghrelin and obestatin levels in patients with post-menopausal osteoporosis in comparison to non-porotic healthy controls,and to determine the changes in these levels with strontium ranelate treatment. Material and Methods: Thirty-six drug-naive patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and 21 healthy age-matched postmenopausal controls were included. Saliva and blood were collected to assess ghrelin and obestatin. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Strontium ranelate (2 g/day) and calcium (1200 mg/ day) + vitamin D (800 IU/day) treatment were given to the osteoporotic patients for 6 months. Results: In patients with post-menopausal osteoporosis, saliva ghrelin levels were significantly higher and obestatin levels were significantly lower than controls at baseline (p 0.05). Lumbar and femoral BMD increased at the end of 6 months of treatment. Conclusion: Our results indicate that ghrelin and obestatin levels are key peptides that are need to be investigated in the bone metrabolism as well as in pathogenesis of osteo porosis.