Effects of metabolic syndrome on bone mineral density in postmenopausal Turkish women

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the potential effects of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components on bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine and femoral neck in postmenopausal Turkish women. Patients and methods: 193 postmenopausal women were included in this study. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical blood tests, and T-scores of BMD in the lumbar spine (L1–L4) and femoral neck were recorded. The participants were divided into two groups according to the bone mineral density (BMD) results as osteoporosis group (Group 1, n=109) who had a T-score>−2.5 at the spine or/and femoral neck, and the control group (Group 2, n=84) who had T-score>−2.5 at the spine or/and femoral neck. MetS and its components were screened using the criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). The effects of the MetS components on T-scores of BMD at the femoral neck and lumbar spine were evaluated by partial correlation test and multiple regression analysis. Results: MetS was detected in 58 (30.1%) participants. The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (39.3% vs 22.9%, p=0,014). Among the MetS components, especially abdominal obesity showed a significant positive correlation with T-scores of BMD at the femoral neck and spine. A weak but significant correlation was also observed with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum triglyceride levels, and fasting blood glucose (FBG). Multiple regression analysis revealed an association between waist circumference and BMD at both femoral neck and spine, and also between serum triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and spine BMD. Conclusion: Our findings support that MetS is associated with increased BMD at the femoral neck and spine in postmenopausal women. A significant positive association was observed among the MetS components, especially with abdominal obesity, and also a weak positive association with serum triglycerides, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Keywords: Postmenopausal women; bone mineral density; metabolic syndrome; osteoporosis.