High density lipoproteins (HDL) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis:a preliminary study

Objective: Since a previous study showed an inverse correlation between hig h density lipoproteins (HDL) and bone mineral density (BMD), we searched fo r a possible relationship between HDL level and the presence of postmenopau sal osteoporosis. Design: We measured HDL levels in 37 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis , and compared them with a control group of 43 healthy postmenopausal women . The HDL levels were compared between the two groups using Student's t tes t and were correlated with BMD by Pearson's coefficient. To avoid possible selection bias, we compared patients and controls for body mass index by ch i (2) test. The sensitivity and specificity of HDL level higher than 65 mg% (positive test) or lower than 45 mg% (negative test) was compared with dou ble emission x-ray absorptiometry (considered the gold standard in the meas urement of BMD). Results: The level of HDL was significantly higher in the osteoporotic pati ents than in the controls (67.7 +/- 15.5 mg% vs 58.3 +/- 11.6 mg%, p = 0.00 39). HDL was inversely correlated with BMD (r = -0.29, p = 0.0083). HDL hig her than 65 mg% has a high specificity (77%) for patients with osteoporosis , while HDL lower than 45 mg% has a high sensitivity (97%) in detecting sub ject without osteoporosis. Conclusions: Our preliminary data suggest an interesting, as yet unexplaine d association between HDL and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.