Hormone predictors of bone mineral density changes during the menopausal transition

OBJECTIVE AND CONTEXT: Our objective was to examine predictability of reproductive hormone concentrations for bone mineral density (BMD) loss during the menopausal transition.

We conducted a longitudinal (five annual examinations), multiple-site (n = 5) cohort study, the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

Participants included, at baseline, 2311 premenopausal or early perimenopausal African-American, Caucasian, Chinese, and Japanese women.

We assessed annual dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry lumbar spine and total hip BMD measures, with endogenous estradiol (E2), FSH, androgens, and self-reported menstrual bleeding patterns.

Over the 4-yr period, lumbar spine BMD loss was 5.6% in natural postmenopause, 3.9% in surgical postmenopause, or 3.2% in late perimenopause. Baseline FSH concentrations, subsequent FSH levels, and their interaction predicted 4-yr BMD loss. If baseline FSH was less than 25 mIU/ml, higher follow-up FSH (>70 mIU/ml) predicted a 4-yr spine BMD loss of -0.05 g/cm(2). If baseline FSH values were more than 35-45 mIU/ml, lower follow-up FSH (i.e. 40-50 mIU/ml) predicted a -0.05 g/cm(2) 4-yr spine BMD loss. Charts show amounts of predicted BMD losses with combinations of baseline FSH values and FSH levels over time. E2 concentrations less than 35 pg/ml were associated with lower BMD, but annual E2 measures and changes did not predict BMD loss. Testosterone, free androgen index, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations were not significantly associated with BMD loss.

Spine and hip BMD losses during the menopause transition were most strongly related to the interaction between initial FSH levels and longitudinal FSH changes and not to E2 or androgen levels or changes.