Ghrelin and Bone Mass in Postmenopausal Hypertensive Women

Abstract

Background: Ghrelin, a recently discovered peptide mainly secreted by the stomach, has an orexigenic effect which stimulates secretion of the growth hormone. It also has vasodilator effects which reduce blood pressure and stimulate in vitro, bone formation. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of ghrelin on bone mass and bone remodeling markers in postmenopausal hypertensive women. Material and Methods: 25 postmenopausal hypertensive women, light to moderate based on the JNC-VII criteria, were studied. They had a mean age of 58 ± 8 years, a body mass index of 28 ± 6 and a hypertension development time of 65 ± 84 months. Osteocalcin, PTHi, 25-vitamin D, ghrelin in serum and deoxypiridinoline in urine were determined in all patients. A lumbar spine densitometer was made (DXP Lunar, Madison, Wisc., USA). Results: Diminished levels of ghrelin were observed in the osteoporotic group (40 ± 19 vs. 78 ± 40, p = 0.027). When the patients were separated according to ghrelin tertiles, a greater bone mass was observed in the upper tertiles, which was associated with a decrease in the urinary deoxypiridinoline. When the total population was analyzed, no relation between the ghrelin and bone mass was found, nor with any of the parameters of calcium metabolism. Only a statistically significant relation between ghrelin and deoxypiridinoline was observed (r = –0.428, p = 0.026). Conclusions: In postmenopausal hypertensive women, ghrelin may produce a protecting effect over bone mass through an anticatabolic mechanism manifested by a decrease of bone resorption.

Association between ghrelin levels and BMD: a cross sectional trial

“…It also showed a significant decrease in subjects with low BMD versus those with normal BMD. These results are in accordance with those of Pérez-Castrillón et al [6] who reported diminished levels of ghrelin in osteoporotic postmenopausal women. In the latter study, when the patients were separated according to ghrelin tertiles, a greater bone mass was observed in the upper tertiles, which was associated with a decrease in the urinary deoxypiridinoline [6].…”

“…A positive association between ghrelin and BMD was also reported by Pérez-Castrillñn et al [6] in a study on postmenopausal women. Misra et al [12] found a direct relation between total ghrelin and ghrelin secretion with bone mass measured in the spine and the hip in healthy adolescents.…”

Biological Effect of Soy Isoflavones in the Prevention of Civilization Diseases

“…A study carried out by Turhan et al [44] has shown that six-month administration of isoflavones (59.6 mg genistein with 15.6 mg daidzein) to postmenopausal women led to a significant increase in BMD in the lumbar spine and a concurrent reduction in the biochemical markers of bone resorption. Similar conclusions were obtained by Lee et al [45], who examined the effects of isoflavone supplementation on bone biomarkers in 87 postmenopausal women.…”

Effects of Feeding on Bone Metabolism

“…Serum ghrelin is positively correlated with femoral neck BMD in elderly men [62]. However, other observational studies have failed to demonstrate a relationship between ghrelin and BMD in adolescent boys, middleaged, and older adults [63][64][65][66][67]. Treatment of older adults with an oral ghrelin mimetic for 12 months was associated with a small increase in femoral neck BMD, but had no effect on spine or total hip measurements [68].…”