The role of trace minerals in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis and a new effect of calcitonin

Abstract

The physiologic role of calcitonin in mineral and bone homeostasis is not very well understood. Very few longitudinal studies have reported the effects of calcitonin therapy on trace minerals in postmenopausal osteoporosis despite the documented involvement of trace minerals in normal skeletal metabolism. Several trace minerals, particularly magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn), essential for organic bone matrix synthesis have been known for at least three decades. The present study was designed to determine whether the mineral profile was different between 70 osteoporotic and 30 nonosteoporotic postmenopausal women and to evaluate the efficacy of calcitonin therapy for 6 months on these trace minerals in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. In our study, the serum values of Mg, copper (Cu), and Zn (P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the patient group than those in the control group. After 3 months of treatment, serum Cu, Zn, and Mg levels did not differ between the patients and controls, and this situation has continued after the end of 6 months of therapy. Serum Cu, Zn, and Mg levels increased consistently during the 6-month treatment period. The higher levels of serum Mg in the 3rd and 6th months of therapy were found to be statistically significant compared to those before treatment (P < 0.05). Serum Cu and Zn levels were found to be significantly higher at all measurements during the treatment period as well as at the end of therapy (P < 0.05). These results suggest that (1) calcitonin therapy regulates Mg, Cu, and Zn levels in postmenopausal osteoporosis; (2) when serum calcium and phosphorus were normal in postmenopausal osteoporosis, serum Mg, Cu, and Zn were more useful for evaluation; and (3) further studies are essential to evaluate the role of dietary composition on the manifestations of osteoporosis.

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

“…Similar to our study, Reginster et al [29] reported no significant difference in Cu and Zn plasma levels between postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and the non-osteoporotic control subjects. In contrast, several studies found that serum Zn and Cu levels were lower among patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis than with the controls [30,31]. p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant Previously, it has been reported that there is an association between Zn deficiency and many kinds of skeletal abnormalities in fetal and postnatal development [32].…”

Plasma Copper and Bone Mineral Density in Osteopenia: An Indicator of Bone Mineral Density in Osteopenic Females

“…However, the levels of copper have been shown by Gür et al [1], to be significantly lower in the serum of postmenopausal, as opposed to pre-menopausal, women. Similarly, Lowe et al [2] have shown that copper deficiency increases the rate of bone loss in postmenopausal women and these authors discussed the potential therapeutic value of copper in the amelioration of osteoporosis.…”

Synergistic effect of trace elements and flavonoids from Epimedium koreanum Nakai on primary osteoblasts

“…The participation of trace minerals in normal development and maintenance of the skeleton is related to their catalytic functions in organic bone matrix synthesis [24] . Calcium, a major component of bone matrix, has received considerable attention in the prevention and treatment of bone loss.…”