The Relationship of the Serum Level of Osteoprotegerin and Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women

Deficiency in bone mineral density is an important factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women incurring severe financial burden every year on health care services. Related studies of osteoprotegerin (OPG) are shifting to new parameters in addition to common factors such as aging، menopause، lack of exercise and calcium deficiency etc. In this context، osteoprotegerin serum levels play an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between serum level of osteoprotegerin and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. 90 patients with a mean age of 61. 39 years were enrolled. They were divided in two groups of 45 subjects with and without osteoporosis according to their medical records. Both groups were subjected to densitometry using DAX (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry). Bone mineral density (BMD) and T-score were determined. Fresh blood serum samples were taken for analysis of osteoprotegerin serum levels using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. To rule out heart diseases، they were examined by a cardiologist. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square، t and Mann-Whitney tests. Bone mineral density of different parts of the body (vertebrae L2، L3، L4، trochanter، femur and hip bones) in normal and osteoporotic postmenopausal women was found to showed significant difference. Comparing the distribution of bone density status (classified as either normal or osteoporotic) showed a significant difference، too (P < 0. 001). There was inverse relationship between bone mineral density of lumbar spine (r = -0. 4; P = 0. 002)، hip (r = -0. 3; P = 0. 030) and femoral neck (R = -0. 31; P = 0. 020) and serum osteoprotegerin in the two groups. In this study، bone mineral density and osteoprotegerin showed an inverse relationship.