Abstract
Objective
To find out the significance of urinary zinc as a marker of bone loss and to find out its association with bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women.
Methods
Ninety (90) female subjects were taken from general population. Females were categorized as 40 premenopausal (age=28.45 +/- 0.8 years) and 50 postmenopausal (age=56.06 +/- 1.17 years). They assessed with measurements of body mass index, height, weight, menstrual history, years since menopause in postmenopausal women, history of disease, medications and fracture, if any, were recorded. Urinary zinc was measured and bone mineral density (BMD) was analyzed by DEXA scan.
Results
A higher mean value of urinary zinc and lower mean value of BMD was observed in postmenopausal osteoporotic women compared to postmenopausal osteopenic and premenopausal women (p<0.01). A significant negative correlation was found between urinary zinc and BMI at lumbar spine in postmenopausal osteoporotic women (r= -0.46, p < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between urinary zinc and BMD in postmenopausal osteopenic women indicating that hyperzincuria is associated with loss of bone mineral density, as is seen in osteoporotic women.
Conclusion
Estimation of urinary zinc appears to be valuable marker for the assessment of increased bone resorption as seen in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.