BIOCHEMICAL AND HORMONAL VARIABLES IN BLACK-AND-WHITE WOMEN MATCHED FOR AGE AND WEIGHT

Weight and age may influence the levels of indexes of bone remodeling and the calciotropic hormones. In a study of interracial differences i n these women, our black population was heavier than our white populat ion. We therefore matched a subset of 96 black and 96 white women from our larger population for age and weight to determine whether a racia l difference exists independent of the effects of weight and age. In a ddition, we were able to measure other indexes of bone remodeling (N-t elopeptide of cross-linked collagen and pyridinoline cross-links), as well as hormones that may influence calcium metabolism (insulin-like g rowth factor-1 (IGF-I), insulin, calcitonin, and gastrin) in this subs et. All indexes of bone remodeling were lower in black women. Black po stmenopausal women had lower serum levels of calcidiol and higher para thyroid hormone (PTH) levels. The higher bone mass of black women is a ssociated with lower bone remodeling in the presence of skeletal resis tance to PTH. Serum IGF-I, insulin, and calcitonin levels did not diff er significantly between races. Serum gastrin levels were higher in bl ack women. The higher levels of gastrin in black women should be inves tigated further for its possible effect on the absorption of calcium s alts.