Plasma Selenium, Zinc, Copper and Lipid Levels in Postmenopausal Turkish Women and Their Relation with Osteoporosis

Abstract

It has been shown that the trace elements and lipids play role in the growth, development and maintenance of bones. We aimed to investigate serum selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and lipid (total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) levels in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, osteopenia and in healthy controls, and to determine the relationship between Se, Zn, Cu and lipid parameters and bone mineral density (BMD). The study included 107 postmenopausal women; 35 healthy (group 1), 37 osteopenic (group 2) and 35 osteoporotic (group 3). The women in all three groups were carefully matched for body mass index (BMI). Serum concentrations of Se, Zn and Cu were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Plasma Se, Cu, Zn and lipid levels were similar in all groups (p > 0.05). When we combined the women in each of the three groups, and considered them as one group (n = 107) we found a positive correlation between BMI and lumbar vertebra BMD, femur neck BMD, femur total BMD; a positive correlation between TG and femur neck BMD, femur total BMD; a positive correlation between Zn and lumbar vertebra BMD (total T score) (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between Se, Cu, Zn, P and lipid parameters (p > 0.05). Although BMI has a positive effect on BMD, trace elements and lipids, except Zn and TG, did not directly and correlatively influence BMD. Further studies are needed to clarify the role and relationship of trace elements and lipid parameters in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Association of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound parameters with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly Chinese: a large population-based cross-sectional study

“…While Buizert et al [28] observed inverse association between QUS and HDL-C. We only found TG was positively associated with QUI in postmenopausal women, consistent with study in Turkey [29]. Some other studies suggest a certain relation between LDL-C and QUS which was not discovered by us.…”

Comparison of trace element concentration in bone and intervertebral disc tissue by atomic absorption spectrometry techniques

“…In serum level analysis, copper concentration, unlike calcium, does not show correlation with degenerative disc disease [30]. Also it does not show correlation with osteopenia or osteoporosis in postmenopausal women [31,32]. …”

Trace elements and bone health

“…In clinical observations, selenium status was negatively related to bone remodeling and positively to bone density in healthy postmenopausal women [ 50 ]. However, a comparable study by Arikan et al [ 51 ] did not find any correlation between serum selenium and bone mass in a small group of postmenopausal women. Thus, further investigation is needed to clarify the importance of selenium for bone health.…”