Comparison of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and growth hormone levelsin osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women

The purpose of this study was to compare the insulin-like growth factor-1 ( IGF-1) levels and the growth hormone (GH) levels in osteoporotic and nonost eoporotic postmenopausal women. Eleven non-osteoporotic postmenopausal wome n and 9 women with untreated postmenopausal osteoporosis were included in t he study. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by dual energy X-ray abso rbtiometry. Serum was assayed for calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase , bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, IGF-1 and GH lev els. IGF-1 levels were 98.8 +/- 43.5 ng/ml for osteoporotic women and 169.8 +/- 50.3 ng/ml for the women with normal BMD (p < 0.05). GH levels were 1. 3 +/- 1.1 ng/ml and 1.3 +/- 1.0 ng/ml, respectively. When compared with nor mal postmenopausal women, IGF-1 levels were found to be lower in women with osteoporosis. IGF-1 seems to play an important role in the development of low bone mass and the present results suggest that IGF-1 is a useful predic tor of the presence of osteoporosis.