Association between renal function and bone mineral density in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women

The relationship between renal function and bone mineral density (BMD) is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of renal function with BMD and osteoporosis risk in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 776 healthy postmenopausal Chinese women. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure BMDs. Clinical, demographic, and biochemical data were obtained at the time of image acquisition. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using a Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation.

Women with eGFR levels of at least 90 ml/min/1.73m² had a lower prevalence of osteoporosis compared with women with decreased eGFR levels (60 ml/min/1.73 m² ≤ eGFR < 90.0 ml/min/1.73 m²). BMDs at femoral neck and total hip were significantly lower in the lower eGFR class than the higher class (0.717 ± 0.106 vs 0.744 ± 0.125 g/cm², P < 0.01; 0.796 ± 0.116 vs 0.823 ± 0.129 g/cm², P < 0.01, respectively). eGFR was positively correlated with BMDs at femoral neck and total hip in unadjusted analysis (P < 0.05). After controlling for age, menopausal duration and body mass index (BMI), decreased eGFR was not associated with osteoporosis risk.

After adjustments for age, menopausal duration and BMI, the decline in renal function was not independently associated with osteoporosis risk in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women.