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Researchers identify possible early warning signs for osteoporosis in South Asian women
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In premenopausal South Asian women, researchers identified higher levels of urinary N-telopeptide — a by-product for bone resorption — compared with Caucasian women, according to recently published data. They also found fluctuating levels of vitamin D may be related to bone resorption and detrimental to bone health.
“What we have found is that premenopausal South Asian women have the same level of bone resorption as a woman who has been through menopause,” Andrea Darling, PhD, in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom (U.K.), said in a press release. “We need to investigate further whether these women simply have higher levels of both bone resorption and bone formation or if there is something more worrying occurring in their skeletal system, in terms of higher than expected bone resorption, increasing their susceptibility to bone diseases and fractures.”
Between 2006 and 2007, Darling and colleagues assessed data for seasonal measures of urinary N-telopeptide of collagen (uNTX) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in 44 postmenopausal South Asian women, in 50 premenopausal South Asian women, in 144 postmenopausal Caucasian women and in 135 premenopausal Caucasian women.
Researchers found a group effect on uNTX, but not on season. There was no significant difference between postmenopausal Asian and premenopausal Asian groups. Premenopausal Asian women had a 16 nmol BCE/mmol to 20 nmol BCE/mmol creatine higher uNTX compared with premenopausal Caucasian women in the winter and spring. The seasonal change for 25(OH)D was predictive for uNTX, which suggested that those with higher seasonal change in 25(OH)D — with an adjustment for overall 25(OH)D concentration — had increased levels of uNTX.
According to the release, this higher level of uNTX in premenopausal South Asian women suggests that osteoclast cells may be breaking down bones at a quicker rate than they are being reformed, which makes these women susceptible to osteoporosis. In addition, the seasonal change in vitamin D concentration showed an increased bone resorption.
“The fluctuation in Vitamin D levels in white Caucasian women living in the UK is not surprising as the level of sunshine we are exposed to varies with the season,” Darling said. “What is surprising is how the oscillation of this vitamin may be detrimental to a person’s bone health.” – by Will Offit
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Disclosure s : Researchers report funding by the Foods Standards Agency. Please see the full study for a list of all other relevant financial disclosures.
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