Related Experiment Videos
Forearm endothelial function and bone mineral loss in postmenopausal women
Mitsuhiro Sanada1, Akira Taguchi, Yukihito Higashi
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sanada Hospital, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 3-13-21 Minami-machi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734 0007, Japan. msanada64@hotmail.com
Atherosclerosis
|September 24, 2004
Summary
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis show impaired endothelial function, indicated by reduced forearm blood flow and altered serum markers. This suggests a link between vascular health and bone density in this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Bone Metabolism
- Endocrinology
Background:
- The vasculature is recognized for its crucial role in bone remodeling processes.
- Endothelial function may be associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between forearm endothelial function and lumbar spine bone mass.
- To assess endothelial function in early postmenopausal Japanese women across different BMD categories (normal, osteopenia, osteoporosis).
Main Methods:
- Studied 110 early postmenopausal Japanese women (52 normal BMD, 36 osteopenia, 22 osteoporosis).
- Measured forearm blood flow (FBF) during reactive hyperemia and after nitroglycerin (NTG) administration using strain-gauge plethysmography.
- Assessed lumbar spine BMD (L2-L4) via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; measured serum ACE activity and nitrite/nitrate concentrations.
Main Results:
- Osteoporotic women exhibited significantly lower maximal FBF response to reactive hyperemia compared to normal BMD and osteopenia groups (P=0.029).
- Significantly increased serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity (P=0.042) and decreased serum nitrite/nitrate concentrations (P=0.041) were observed in osteoporotic women.
- Adjustments were made for age, BMI, years since menopause, and basal FBF.
Conclusions:
- Early postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density, particularly osteoporosis, demonstrate impaired endothelial function in forearm resistance arteries.
- Findings suggest a potential link between vascular dysfunction and reduced bone mass in postmenopausal women.