The relationship between circulating osteoprotegerin levels and bone mineral metabolism in healthy women

• Published in: Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) 2004-08, Vol.61 (2), p.244-249
• Main Authors: Oh, Ki Won, Rhee, Eun Jung, Lee, Won Young, Kim, San Woo, Oh, Eun Sook, Baek, Ki Hyun, Kang, Moo Il, Choi, Moon Gi, Yoo, Hyung Joon, Park, Sung Woo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Amino Acids - urine; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone Density - physiology; Endocrinopathies; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Female; Femur Neck - metabolism; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae - metabolism; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Minerals - metabolism; Osteoprotegerin; Postmenopause - metabolism; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - blood; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0300-0664; 1365-2265
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2004.02090.x

Summary objective  Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a recently identified cytokine that acts as a decoy receptor for the RANK ligand. Moreover, OPG has been shown to be an important inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis in animal models. However, the relationship between circulating OPG levels and female bone status in human populations is unclear. In this study we undertook to investigate the relationship between circulating OPG levels and bone mineral metabolism in healthy women. patients and measurements  Our subjects were 287 women aged 37–73 years (mean age 51·5 years). The serum concentrations of OPG were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The biochemical markers of bone turnover and FSH were measured using standard methods. Bone mineral densities at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. results  Postmenopausal women had a significantly higher mean value of serum OPG than premenopausal women (1358·5 ± 32·5 pg/ml vs. 1228·8 ± 33·3 pg/ml, P