Association between reproductive factors and postmenopausal osteoporosis

Summary

Objective

The present cross-sectional research was designed to study possible correlations between clinical reproductive factors and bone mineral density (BMD) values.

Methods

Using the data gathered by the population-based Iranian Multicenter Osteoporosis Study (IMOS), we investigated the correlation found between reproductive factors and osteoporosis. Subjects were recruited from five major cities of Iran. Bone mineral density was measured using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry and the results were analyzed against the age at menarche and at menopause, number of pregnancies, children and abortions, and the history (and duration) of breastfeeding.

Results

Data was available for 2528 women. Gravidity and number of children were reversely correlated with BMD. Younger age at menarche was associated with higher BMD values, whereas there was no significant correlation between age at menopause and menstrual history and BMD.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that clinical reproductive factors, particularly number of children and breastfeeding, could be incorporated as predictors of BMD levels in women. Given the controversial results obtained in different studies, longitudinal studies should be carried out to enlighten the importance of these factors and the rationale of their use to predict BMD values in different settings.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel

Die vorliegende Querschnittstudie will mögliche Korrelationen zwischen klinischen reproduktiven Faktoren und der Knochen - mineraldichte (BMD) untersuchen.

Methoden

Anhand von Daten, die bei der populationsbasierten Iranian Multicenter Osteoporosis Study (IMOS) erhoben wurden, untersuchten wir die Korrelation zwischen reproduktiven Faktoren und Osteoporose. Die Teilnehmer der Studie wurden aus fünf iranischen Großstädten rekrutiert. Die mittels DXA ermittelte Knochenmineraldichte (BMD) wurde ausgewertet gegenüber dem Me narchenalter und dem Menopausenalter, der Anzahl an Schwangerschaften, Kindern und Fehlgeburten sowie dem Verlauf (und der Dauer) der Stillzeit.

Ergebnisse

Daten von 2528 Frauen waren verfügbar. Schwangerschaft und Zahl der Kinder korrelierten negativ mit der BMD. Ein geringeres Menarchenalter war mit höheren BMD-Werten verbunden, wohin gegen es keine signifikante Korrelation zwischen Menopausenalter sowie Menstruationsverlauf und der BMD gab.

Schlussfolgerung

Unsere Studie legt nahe, dass klinische Reproduktionsfaktoren, vor allem die Zahl der Kinder und Stillen, als Prädiktoren für die Knochendichte bei Frauen aufgenommen werden könnten. Angesichts der kontroversen Ergebnisse verschiedener Studien sollten Längsschnittstudien durchgeführt werden, um die Bedeutung dieser Faktoren sowie die Begründung ihres Einsatzes in unterschiedlichen Konstellationen für die Vorhersage von BMD-Werten abzuklären.

Keywords

Reproductive factors - bone mineral density - postmenopausal osteoporosis

Schlüsselwörter

Reproduktive Faktoren - Knochenmineraldichte - postmenopausale Osteoporose

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