Some discrepancies exist about the relationship between serum albumin level and the
pathogenesis of osteoporosis; moreover, most of the studies available have especially
concerned patients with osteoporosis, often associated with fractures. Our study,
therefore, aims to investigate the presence of a relationship between serum albumin
level and bone mineral density in a group of healthy women (n = 650; mean age 59.0
± 7.4 years) who voluntarily underwent screening for osteoporosis only because they
were menopausal (11.2 ± 7.4 years since menopause) and, for comparison, in a group
of outpatients (n = 44; mean age 57.6 ± 7.0 years; 9.1 ± 6.7 years since menopause)
with hypoalbuminemia associated with diseases. The results show a lack of any relationship
in healthy women between serum albumin value and bone mineral density; the lack of
correlation was also shown when the postmenopausal women were down into normal, osteopenic
and osteoporotic (WHO criteria) or in hypo, normal and hyperalbuminemic. The only
significant parameters associated with lower bone mineral density, in fact, were age
and years since menopause (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001 respectively at lumbar spine
and p < 0.02 and p < 0.001 at femoral neck level). In the group of patients with hypoalbuminemia
associated with diseases, on the other hand, a relationship between reduced bone mineral
density and hypoalbuminemia was found (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively at lumbar
spine and femoral neck). In conclusion, in healthy postmenopausal women the serum
albumin level does not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of bone density
reduction, which is mainly due to the number of years since menopause and advancing
age. The hypoalbuminemia may be related to the reduction of bone mass only in the
subjects affected by diseases associated with a significant albumin reduction.
Key words
Albuminemia - Bone Mineral Density
