Association between oxidative stress and bone mineral density

Free radicals have been shown to be involved in bone resorption in vitro an d in rodents. We studied the effect of oxidative stress on bone mineral den sity (BMD) in 48 women and 53 men from a population-based study. The levels of 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) (a major F-2-isoprostane and a biomarker of oxidativ e stress) and a control, 15-keto-dihydro-PGF(2 alpha) (a biomarker of infla mmatory response), were measured in urinary samples and their association w ith BAM and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements were examined. In mu ltivariate linear regression analyses, 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) levels were negat ively associated with both BNM and QUS. In contrast, no association was fou nd for 15-keto-dihydro-PGF(2 alpha). Our findings establish a biochemical l ink between increased oxidative stress and reduced bone density and provide a rational for further studies investigating the role of pro- and antioxid ants in osteoporosis. (C) 2001 Academic Press.