Follicle-stimulating hormone is associated with low bone mass in postmenopausal women.

We evaluated the influence of two endogenous hormones on bone health in older women. Higher FSH was associated with bone disease, especially in lower estradiol environments. FSH attenuated the relationship between estradiol and bone. This may provide a mechanism through which future clinical research intervenes on bone loss. INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Despite preclinical evidence for an inverse association of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and bone mineral density (BMD), no large epidemiologic studies have evaluated the separate and joint influences of FSH and estradiol on bone in postmenopausal women. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 675 postmenopausal women, we evaluated associations of serum FSH and dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-classified areal BMD as well as low bone mass or osteoporosis (T-score < - 1.0) of the femoral neck and total hip. We stratified this analysis by serum estradiol (cut at the median). We tested whether FSH mediates the association of estradiol and BMD using the Sobel test. RESULTS: In linear regression models, there was a significant inverse association of serum FSH with both femoral neck and total hip BMD (both p < 0.01) when adjusted for age, hormone therapy (HT) use, and diabetes. In fully adjusted logistic regression models, women in the highest FSH tertile had higher odds of low bone mass/osteoporosis at the femoral neck (OR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.86-4.77) and at the total hip (OR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.06-2.84) compared to those in the lowest FSH tertile. We report evidence of effect modification by estradiol in stratified models and an interaction term. FSH met all criteria of a mediator, including an estimated 70% attenuation of the estradiol-BMD relationship (Sobel p value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: FSH is associated with higher odds of having low bone mass/osteoporosis even after accounting for HT use. FSH is a mediator of the relationship between estradiol and BMD in healthy postmenopausal women. Larger, prospective studies of FSH concentrations and bone health are needed.

Vitamin D Status and Tooth Loss in Postmenopausal Females: The Buffalo Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease (OsteoPerio) Study.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is hypothesized to reduce risk for tooth loss via its influence on bone health, inflammation, and the immune response. The association between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and prevalence and 5-year incidence of tooth loss in a cohort of postmenopausal females was examined. METHODS: Participants underwent oral examinations at study baseline (1997 to 2000) and follow-up (2002 to 2005) to determine the number of missing teeth and 5-year incidence of tooth loss, respectively. At both visits, females self-reported reasons for each missing tooth. At baseline, 152 females reported no history of tooth loss, and 628 were categorized as reporting a history of tooth loss as a result of periodontal disease (n = 70) or caries (n = 558) (total n = 780). At follow-up, 96, 376, 48, and 328 females were categorized into the aforementioned categories related to tooth loss (total n = 472). Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for tooth loss by category of baseline 25(OH)D (nmol/L) concentrations. Models were adjusted for age, income, smoking status, frequency of dental visits, waist circumference, and recreational physical activity. P value for trend was estimated using continuous concentrations of 25(OH)D. RESULTS: Among females with 25(OH)D ≥50 (adequate vitamin D status) compared to <50 nmol/L (deficient/inadequate), the adjusted ORs were 1.24 (95% CI = 0.82 to 1.87), P-trend = <0.05 for the history (prevalence) of tooth loss resulting from periodontal disease or caries and 1.07 (95% CI = 0.62 to 1.85), P-trend = 0.11 for the incidence of tooth loss resulting from periodontal disease or caries. No statistically significant association was observed between 25(OH)D and the history or incidence of tooth loss caused by periodontal disease. An increased odds of the history of tooth loss attributable to caries was observed with increasing concentrations of 25(OH)D (P-trend = <0.05) but was not confirmed in prospective analyses. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of postmenopausal females, the data do not support an association between vitamin D status and tooth loss.

Association between metabolic syndrome and periodontal disease measures in postmenopausal women: the Buffalo OsteoPerio study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to characterize the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and periodontitis in women, for which there is limited evidence. METHODS: Cross-sectional associations between MetS and periodontitis were examined in 657 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years enrolled in a periodontal disease study ancillary to the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Whole-mouth measures of alveolar crest height (ACH), clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), gingival bleeding, and supragingival plaque and measures to define MetS using National Cholesterol Education Program criteria were from a clinical examination. Study outcomes were defined as: 1) mean ACH ≥3 mm, two sites ≥5 mm, or tooth loss to periodontitis; 2) ≥2 sites with CAL ≥6 mm and ≥1 site with PD ≥5 mm; 3) gingival bleeding at ≥50% of sites; and 4) supragingival plaque at ≥50% of sites. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In unadjusted analyses, MetS (prevalence: 25.6%) was significantly associated with supragingival plaque (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.50) and non-significantly associated with periodontitis defined by ACH (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.85) and gingival bleeding (OR = 1.20; 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.77). Adjustment for age, smoking, and other confounders attenuated observed associations, though supragingival plaque remained significant (OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.00 to 2.16; P = 0.049). MetS was not associated with periodontitis defined by CAL and PD. CONCLUSIONS: A consistent association between MetS and measures of periodontitis was not seen in this cohort of postmenopausal women. An association between MetS and supragingival plaque requires further investigation.