[Relationship of age-related levels of serum sex hormones with bone mineral density decreasing rate in women].

OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship between the changes of estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and bone mineral density (BMD) decreasing rate (BDR) at different skeletal regions and examine the effects of hormones levels on BDR. METHODS:An age cross-sectional study was conducted in 694 healthy adult women excluded from diseases and drugs affecting bone metabolism. Their age range was 20-80 years. The serum concentrations of FSH, LH and estradiol (E2) were measured with radioimmunoassay. And BDR was measured with a DXA fan-beam bone densitometer at various skeletal regions including lumbar spine, left hip and left forearm. RESULTS:The serum levels of FSH (r = -0.597 to -0.479, all P < 0.01) and LH r = -0.452 to -0.283, all P < 0.01) were significantly negatively correlated with BDR at various skeletal regions. Meanwhile, the serum level of E2 only had slightly positive correlation with hip and distal forearm (r = 0.077 to 0.122, all P < 0.05). After adjusting age and body mass index (BMI), serum FSH still had markedly negative correlation with BDR at various skeletal regions. However, the correlation coefficients became weak. Multiple line regression stepwise analysis revealed that serum FSH was a negative determinant factor of BDR at various skeletal regions: 20%-32% changes in BDR of various skeletal regions were determined by FSH, while LH only produced very small negative effects (0.6%-0.8%) on BDR of lumbar spine. Serum E2 seemed to be a positive determinant factor of skeletal regions and 2.5%-5.4% changes in BDR were determined by E2. The effects of serum FSH on BDR were approximately 3.8-12.8 folds than those of serum E2. CONCLUSIONS:BDR is correlated with increased FSH in women. The most critical factor for aging-related BDR is FSH in women while a decreased level of estrogen may be secondary.