Bone resorption levels by age and menopausal status in 5,157 women

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe bone resorption activi ty using a biochemical marker according to the categories of age, menopausa l status, and selected drug/supplement use in middle-aged and elderly commu nity-based women. Design: This was a cross-sectional study that assessed urinary cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) and used self-report data to group women as premenopausal (Pre), perimenopausal (Peri), postmenopausal without hormone replacement therapy (Post), and postmenopausal with hormone replac ement therapy (HRT). Results: Mean NTx values were found to be significantly different by group and controlling for age (p = 0.001), with post hoc tests showing all pairwi se group comparisons as significantly different (p = 0.001), except that th e Pre and HRT groups were not significantly different. Both the Peri and th e Post NTx levels were significantly higher than the Pre and the HRT groups ', NTx values in the Peri group varied with age-the youngest Peri women wer e similar to Pre women, and the oldest Peri women were similar to Post wome n. Significantly lower NTx levels were found only in the Post (p = 0.009) a nd HRT (p < 0.001) groups using diuretics compared with nonuse and only in the HRT group using calcium supplements compared with nonuse (p = 0,006). N o differences by thyroid use were found. With a biochemical marker, the res ults: showed that bone resorption activity differences could be demarcated in women according to age, estimated menopausal stage, and selected drug/su pplement use. Conclusions: These results support the usefulness of NTx assessment for ind icating bone resorption activity and therefore the potential for osteoporos is or for monitoring the efficacy of antiresorptive therapies. (Menopause 2 000,7,42-52. (C) 2000, The North American Menopause Society.).