Lead as a Risk Factor for Osteoporosis in Post-menopausal Women

Abstract

Lead exposure is increasingly becoming an important risk factor for osteoporosis. In adults, approximately 80-90 % of absorbed lead is stored in the bones. These bone lead deposits are released into the blood during periods of enhanced bone resorption like menopause, forming a potential endogenous source of lead exposure. Postmenopausal women are at a higher risk for bone lead release because of hormonal and age related changes in bone metabolism. Estrogen deficiency is associated with increase in osteoclasts number and activity leading to both the early and late form of osteoporosis. Hence, high blood lead level coupled with concomitant environmental exposure exposes women in this age group to lead related adverse outcomes like hypertension, reduced kidney and neurocognitive functions as well as increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality. A few studies have also identified coexisting variates like ethnicity, occupation, residence, education, smoking, alcohol medications, water etc. as significant determinants of bone and blood lead in women, thus increasing the magnitude of postmenopausal bone changes. Hence, interventions focused on reducing the intensity of bone resorption during menopause will help decrease exposure to endogenous lead. This would play a significant role in decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with menopause. Also, identification of modifiable factors that prevent bone lead release will reduce the risk of chronic lead exposure and improve the health outcomes of post-menopausal women.

The Relationship between Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome and Bone Mineral Density in Menopausal Korean Women

“…A comparison of studies between those reporting relevant effects versus no relevance for MetS on BMD indicates that the studies involved different races or nationalities (4, 17, 32). For example, some works involved menopausal Turkish women (17, 23), and post-menopausal Tibetan women (4). Some studies have reported differences in bone health and bone density-related disease among races and countries (34), which have been confirmed by studies presenting the prevalence of osteoporosis in menopausal women in each country (35–36).…”

“…Thus, research has shown inconsistent results regarding the relationship between MetS and BMD in menopausal women, and the correlation and causation are still unclear. Nevertheless, considering a report of low BMD in Asian women compared to Caucasians (22) and recent studies (10, 23) that continue to highlight the health problems of menopausal women, especially a decrease in BMD by MetS, it is necessary to make continuous attempts to elucidate the relationship between the two variables. Moreover, while Korea has focused on treatment for menopausal women with osteoporosis, its efforts at prevention by identifying and reducing potential risk factors have been relatively limited (24–25).…”

Synergistic protective effect of Beta vulgaris with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid against lead-induced neurotoxicity in male rats

“…Because, Pb and its compounds interfere with the functions of different organs and systems such as, the nervous system, the hematopoietic system, liver, and kidney 9 . Pb intoxication may cause blood vessels and tissue inflammation, making more calcium to be dragged to the area as a buffer and resulting in stiffening of the arterial walls with progressive blockage of the arteries and osteoporosis 14 , 15 . Since calcium is a critical ion in neuronal function, including cell growth and differentiation, neurotransmitter release, and intracellular biochemical cascades 17 .…”

Begutachtung der Osteoporose und osteoporotischer Frakturen

“…Denkbar wäre die Situation einer erhöhten beruflichen Belastung mit den Knochenstoffwechsel beeinflussenden Substanzen, z. B. Blei oder Kadmium, und einer daraus resultierenden, in der Knochendichtemessung nachgewiesenen Osteoporose[7,8]. Die geschilderte Osteoporose wäre dann in Zusammenhang mit einer Berufskrankheit zu beurteilen.…”