A POSSIBLE ROLE OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN BONE RESORPTION AND POSTMENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS

BACKGROUND: A large body of literature suggest that oxidative stress (OS) might be involved in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PO), one of the most critical disorders for aged women1. In particular, evidences suggest that oxygen reactive species (ROS) are able to influence the balance between bone resorption and formation, responsible for PO is involved in bone metabolism and PO development. METHODS: We carried out a population-based study on 110 climacteric women including 34 in peri- and 76 in post-menopause. Bone mineral density (BMD) of femur and spine was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The bone health status was also evaluated by assessing serum levels of bone alkaline phophatase (BAP) and collagen type 1 cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX-1), markers of bone formation and resorption, respectively. Serum levels of hydroperoxides (Hy), total antioxidants, uric acid (UA), thiols were also determined. RESULTS: according to the WHO densitometric criteria for postmenopausal osteoporosis, n. 29 subjects were healthy, n.50 osteopenic and n.31 osteoporotic. Total antioxidants mean values were significantly (p<0.05) lower in both osteopenic and osteoporotic with respect to healthy women. Thiols and UA also showed a similar trend, but the differences between groups were not significant. Antioxidants and UA were also significantly correlated with BMD of femur (r=0.373 and 0.390, respectively). Moreover, CTX-1 was associated with Hy (r=0.328, p<0.05), but only in postmenopausal group. CONCLUSION: OS could play an important role in PO development by increasing the rate of bone resorption. Our findings also suggest a potential usefulness of antioxidants supplementation in PO treatment. 1Baek KH, et al. Calcif Tis. Int. 2010 87:226-35.