Metabolic Syndrome and Bone Mineral Density in Post Menopausal Women: Is There Any Link?

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) may have a protective or a negative effect on bone. The predominance of different components in individual patients may contribute to inconsistent results regarding its relationship with bone mineral density. Thus we analyzed the link between MetS and each of its components, and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in post menopausal women. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study including post menopausal women with and without MetS according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The two groups were compared for BMD after adjusting for covariates that affected BMD significantly. A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of BMD. Results: We included 170 women, 81 with MetS and 89 without MetS. The prevalence of MetS was 48%. In women with MetS, the mean BMD was 0.915 ± 0.159 g/cm2 in lumbar spine and 0.865 ± 0.143 g/cm2 in total hip. No significant statistical difference was found in comparison with the MetS free group (0.928 ± 0.160 g/cm2; p=0.61 in lumbar spine, and 0.845 ± 0.143 g/cm2; p=0.29 in total hip). Multiple regression analyses showed that waist circumference was associated with bone loss in lumbar spine (p= 0,003), while triglycerides was non-associated with bone loss on total hip (p= 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that BMD is not associated to MetS in post menopausal women. Abdominal obesity might be associated with bone loss underlying the possible effect of inflammation in pathophysiology of osteoporosis and bone loss. Keywords: Bone mineral density; Metabolic Syndrome; Post menopausal Women