[Metabolic syndrome and decreased bone mineral density in climacteric women]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of insulin resistance on the development of syndrome of osteopenia. The case-control study included 124 women with osteopenia and osteoporosis of the distal forearm segment diagnosed by X-ray densitometry in accordance with the WHO criteria (DTX 200). One group of the patients comprised 62 women with metabolic syndrome (MS) by the criteria of NCPE ATP III. The other group consisted of 62 women without MS. Parameters measured in the study included antropometric parameters, blood glucose level, and characteristics of lipid metabolism. The fraction of women with osteoporosis (OP) in group 1 was smaller than in the women without MS (chi2 = 4.501; df=1; p = 0.034). The two groups were not significantly diferent as regards the non-traumatic fracture rate (chi2 = 0.278; df=2; p = 0.870). Nor did they differ in terms of the frequency of cardiovascular complications. It is concluded that disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism and cardiovascular pathology may be associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD) while combination of these disorders in a single patient should be regarded as a manifestation of polymorbidity characteristic of this group of women.