VARIATIONS IN THE DEFICIENCY LEVELS OF ENDOGENOUS ESTRADIOL ON THE RATE OF POSTMENOPAUSAL BONE RESORPTION

Abstract

Over a period of three years, 257 healthy postmenopausal women (mean age of 51.7 years) and 47 premenopausal women (control group, mean age of 34.23 years) were selected into the study. The postmenopausal women were divided into three estradiol‐deficient (study) groups based on the endogenous estradiol levels such as Group – I (10–25 pg/ml), Group ‐ II (>25–50 pg/ml) and Group ‐ III (>50 pg/ml). Bone formation marker (total alkaline phosphatase), bone resorption markers (tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase, calcium, free hydroxyproline, free deoxypyridinoline and calcium/creatinine) and intact paratharmone levels were estimated in every subject. The bone formation marker and bone resorption markers were found to be elevated in all the three study groups over controls (P<0.0010) When the study groups compared among one another, the bone resorption markers were found elevated in Group‐I over Group ‐ II and III and in Group ‐ II over Group ‐ III. But, the intact paratharmone levels were found to be normal in all the groups.This study concludes that the degree of bone resorption was high in Group ‐ III (>50 pg/ml, higher in Group – II (> 25–50 pg/ml) and highest in Group ‐ I (10–25 pg m/l) over controls. This view portends that the endogenous estradiol levels are the important determinants of bone resorption risk and also the variations in deficient endogenous estradiol levels in postmenopausal women might contribute to differences in the rate of postmenopausal bone resorption.