Bone Turnover Markers and PTH Levels in Surgical Versus Natural Menopause

In order to assess similarities and differences in women that suffer surgical versus natural menopause, a series of bone, clinical, and biochemical parameters was assayed in a clinical sample of 35 women with surgical menopause and 112 women with natural menopause. Biochemical parameters included hormones [parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the sex steroids estradiol and testosterone] and several markers of bone turnover measured in urine (N-telopeptide and calcium/creatinine ratio) or serum (osteocalcin, total alkaline phosphatase, total and ionic calcium, phosphate, and magnesium). In addition to type of menopause, women were divided by years since menopause (ysm ≤ 2 or >2). To detect differences and relationships between variables, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and linear regression analyses were used. Only N-telopeptide, one resorption marker, was significantly affected by the variable years since menopause ≤2 or >2 (P <0.01), but not by type of menopause. The age-corrected level of PTH was significantly decreased in the surgical menopause group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, type of menopause did not impose significant differences in bone turnover markers. PTH, one powerful resorption hormone, was diminished in surgical menopause.