Relationship between calcium absorption, serum dehydroepiandrosterone and bone density in normal and osteoporotic post-menopausal women

157 It was women

concluded that, since the forearm bone loss in normal post-menopausal

is

self-limiting, the

excessive bone

presumably represents continuing loss of

loss in

bone

clinical

osteoporosis

beyond the time when it should

normally have ceased. Some of the risk factors which determine this abnormal, continuing loss of bone are discussed elsewhere in this issue.

88

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CALCIUM ABSORPTION, SERUM DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONEAND BONE DENSITY IN NORMAL AND OSTEOPOROTIC POST-MENOPAUSALWOMEN

B.E. Nordin, A.

Robertson, Tracy

Steurer,

Annette

Bridges,

B.E.

Chatterton, R.F. Seamark and T.F. Hartley - Adelaide, Australia

Osteoporosis is the main

undoubtedly multifactorial in origin, but identificationof

risk factors has

condition.

In

the

been handicapped by

present

study,

difficulty in

calcium

defining the

absorption

and

serum

dehydroepiandrosterone(DHA) were directly related to bone density.

The study comprised 102 post-menopausalwomen - 52 with 17 with

definite osteoporosis,

possible osteoporosis and 33 with normal spines and no fracture history.

Vertebral mineral density (VMD) was determined by scanning and

computerized tomography (CT)

forearm mineral density (FMD) with

the Molsgaard Bone Mineral

Analyser. Density was expressed as mg of bone mineral per ml. was

determined with

Calcium absorption

radiocalcium using a single blood sample obtained one hour

after the dose was administered. Serum DHA was determined by radioimmunoassay.

VMD and FMD were both very significantly lower in normal subjects (p (0.001)

with

the

the

osteoporotic than the

doubtful cases occupying an intermediate

position. Radiocalcium absorption and serum DHA were also significantly lower in the

osteoporotic than

the normal subjects (p(O.001 and ~(0.002 respectively)

with the doubtful cases occupying an and

FMD

on

age

and

intermediate position. Regression of

years since menopause showed that both were

significantly inversely related to years since menopause but

not

to

VMD very

age when

years since menopause were taken into account. Regression of VMD on years since menopause, calcium absorption and DHA showed that calcium absorption since menopause were

of

DHA was rather less significant. Conversely, regression of absorption, DHA

and

FMD

years since menopause showed that DHA

menopause were approximately equally significant, and less so.

and

years

approximately equal significance; the correlation with on

calcium

and years since

calcium absorption rather

158 Vertebral and

forearm density are

more closely related to

years since

menopause than to age. In

post-menopausal women, calcium absorption iS

significantly related to

vertebral density and

very

less significantlyto forearm

density. Serum DHA is very significantly related to

forearm density and

less

significantly to vertebral density.

gI)

subcutaneous

IMPLANTATION

0~

PURE CRYSTALLINE 17 &~ESTRADI~L

AND ITS

EFFECT ON BLOOD LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS

Moshe Oettinger, Daniel Yeshurun, Amos Lanir, Luna Kahana, Shimon Degani and Mordechai Sharf - Kiryat Yam, Israel

The

influence of female hormones on blood lipids has attracted much attention

in recent years. Different birth control pills cause a rise in a

drop

triglyceride and

in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. All these preparations consist

of combinations of progestogens and esterified oestradiol that produce an which differs from

the

effect

physiologic state in women. We studied the influence of

pure crystalline 17A-oestradiol, which is the natural physiologic hormone, on blood

lipoproteins. Eight women who

lipids and

underwent trans abdominal

hysterectomy (TAH) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) took 'part in study.

A

containing 100 mg

pellet

subcutaneously

each

in

HDL-cholesterol and

subject.

crystalline oestradiol was cholesterol,

Total

implantation, a

calculated from .the

low-density lipoprotein

results “obtained. One

significant rise in

HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio occurred in

cholesterol

and

LDL-cholesterol

VLDL-cholesterol levels did

not

fell

concomitantly.

all

after

8

HDL

values

women. Total

Triglyceride

.at'id

change during the study period. It would seem

that there are differences between the influence exerted by pure and

week

20-fold increase in. oestradiol levels was noted. These levels

stayed constant during the follow-up period. A and

implanted

triglycerides,

HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio were monitored for

six months. Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and (LDL) values were

our

17R -oestradi,ol

other hormone preparations on blood lipids and.lipoproteins.Our results may

be of clinical importance,sincethey indicate that pure oestradiol could' Qlay 'a beneficial role in preventing,atherosclerosis.

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,.

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