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Role of serum FSH measurement on bone resorption in postmenopausal women

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Abstract

In vitro and animals models have shown follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) effects on osteoclastic function, and FSH levels seem to influence bone loss independently of estrogen concentrations in humans. Our aim was to evaluate the role of serum FSH measurement in the assessment of bone resorption in postmenopausal women. We conducted a cross-sectional study including 92 postmenopausal healthy women aged 56.2 (3.6) and 7.2 (4) years since menopause. Serum FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and bone turnover markers as osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) were measured. We analyzed the relationship between serum levels of gonadotropins, E2, and bone turnover markers. Serum levels of OC and CTX were positively related to FSH (r = 0.234, P = 0.047 and r = 0.384, P = 0.003) and LH (r = 0.319, P = 0.012 and r = 0.273, P = 0.038). There was no relationship with E2 levels. When gonadotropins levels were divided into quartiles, we found significant differences in bone turnover markers between the first and the fourth quartile. OC levels were higher in the highest quartile of FSH (P = 0.024) and LH (P = 0.001). Serum CTX was also higher in the highest quartile of FSH (P = 0.004) and LH (P = 0.039). FSH levels could explain approximately 14.7% of the chances in CTX. In summary, gonadotropins were related to bone turnover in postmenopausal healthy women. Moreover, the rise in FSH appears to contribute to higher bone resorption. Our results suggest that the measurement of FSH could be usefulness to perform a more comprehensive assessment of bone loss in these women.

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Abbreviations

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

BMD:

Bone mineral density

LH:

Luteinizing hormone

E2:

Estradiol

OC:

Osteocalcin

CTX:

C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen

TSH:

Thyroid stimulating hormone

BMI:

Body mass index

SD:

Standard deviation

Q:

Quartile

NS:

No significant

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported; part, by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) Grants (PI081302) and RETICEF (RD06/0013/1014).

Conflict of interest

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bone Metabolic Unit, Endocrinology Division, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Avenida Doctor Olóriz 16, 18012, Granada, Spain

    Antonia García-Martín, Rebeca Reyes-García, Pedro Rozas-Moreno, Fernando Escobar-Jiménez & Manuel Muñoz-Torres

  2. Internal Medicine Division, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain

    José Miguel García-Castro

  3. Endocrinology Division, Hospital General de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain

    Pedro Rozas-Moreno

  4. Plataforma Metabolismo Mineral y Óseo (RETICEF), Granada, Spain

    Manuel Muñoz-Torres

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  1. Antonia García-Martín
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  2. Rebeca Reyes-García
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  3. José Miguel García-Castro
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  4. Pedro Rozas-Moreno
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Correspondence to Antonia García-Martín.

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García-Martín, A., Reyes-García, R., García-Castro, J.M. et al. Role of serum FSH measurement on bone resorption in postmenopausal women. Endocrine 41, 302–308 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-011-9541-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-011-9541-7

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