SEX STEROIDS, BONE MASS, AND BONE LOSS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF PREMENOPAUSAL, PERIMENOPAUSAL, AND POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Although bone loss around the time of menopause is driven by estrogen deficiency, the roles of estrogens and androgens in the preservation o f skeletal mass at other stages of life are less well understood. To a ddress this issue Re studied 231 women between the ages of 32 and 77 w ith multiple measurements of sex steroids and bone mass over a period of 2-8 yr, In all women bone mass was negatively associated with conce ntrations of sex-hormone binding globulin, and positively associated w ith weight, Bone loss occurred from all skeletal sites in peri- and po stmenopausal women, but premenopausal women lost bone only from the hi p (-0.3%/yr) and had positive rates of change in the radius and spine, Bone loss was significantly associated with lower androgen concentrat ions in premenopausal women, and with lower estrogens and androgens in peri- and postmenopausal women, Sex steroids are important for the ma intenance of skeletal integrity before menopause, and for as long as 2 0-25 yr afterwards.