[Serum adiponectin, leptin level, and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women]

To determine whether serum adipocytokines and leptin level are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women.

Serum adiponectin and leptin level were measured by ELISA in 336 postmenopausal women. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the whole body, lumbar spine, hip, and forearm. Body compositions including lean tissue mass and body fat mass were measured by DXA, and their relationship was analyzed.

Serum adiponectin levels were negatively related to BMD at the whole body, the lumbar spine, the hip, and the forearm (r = -0.181, r = -0.208, r = -0.228, r = -0.203, and P < 0.05, respectively). After adjustment for age and fat mass, the correlation with BMD still remained (r = -0.131, r = -0.140, r = -0.159, r = -0.172, and P<0.05, respectively). Serum leptin levels were positively related to BMD was at the hip and the forearm (r = 0.162, r = 0.210, and P < 0.05, respectively). After adjustment for age and fat mass, the correlation with BMD at the forearm remained (r = 0.157, P<0.05), but the correlation with BMD at the hip disappeared. In the multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, year since menopause, lean mass, adiponectin, and estradiol were independent predictors of BMD at the body, the hip and the forearm; year since menopause, lean mass, body mass index, adiponectin, and extradiol were independent predictors of BMD at the lumbar spine.

Adiponectin is the independent predictor of BMD.