Department of Physiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Sangli ( 416416), and Pune (411043), Maharashtra, India
*Email: mkparekh999@gmail.com
Online published on 30 May, 2012.
Estrogen deprivation results in decreased Bone Mineral Density (BMD) during menopause. Body Mass Index (BMI) is positively correlated with Bone Mineral Density (BMD). Fat mass adds to body weight. It has been reported to contribute an independent positive effect on BMD by some authors and a negative effect by others as those studies were designed in a heterogeneous group of women. Since menopausal women tend to have a higher fat mass, and fat cells being the only source of estrogen; the present study was conducted to ascertain that the menopausal women stand to gain in BMD due to increase in fat mass.
To find the difference in the BMD, BMI, Fat mass and Percentage Fat Mass (PFM) between osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic groups.
The study was carried out on 300 postmenopausal women at BMD camps. BMI was calculated. PFM was calculated from the formula based on BMI. BMD measurement was done by Qualitative Ultrasound (QUS) and the result was given in the form of T-Score.
A statistically significant association of BMI with BMD and also Fat mass and PFM with BMD was established. However, a statistically significant positive correlation of BMD with BMI, Fat mass and PFM was not seen. This suggests that BMD increases with BMI, PFM and fat mass but not in a linear manner.
Though BMD appears to be influenced by PFM and fat mass, the relation is not directly proportional.
Bone mineral density, Postmenopausal women, Percentage fat mass
