Lower vitamin E serum levels are associated with osteoporosis in early postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study

J Bone Miner Metab. 2013 Jul;31(4):455-60. doi: 10.1007/s00774-013-0432-2. Epub 2013 Mar 28.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin E status and osteoporosis in early postmenopausal women. Anthropometric data, osteoporosis risk factors, vitamin E serum levels, bone mineral density (BMD) and other serum parameters which may influence bone mineral density in postmenopausal women were analyzed in a cross-sectional study. The association between osteoporosis and age, age of menopause, body mass index, osteocalcin, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E (measured as 25 hydroxyvitamin D and as α-tocopherol:lipids ratio, respectively), bone alkaline phosphatase, smoking status, leisure physical activity and alcohol intake were modeled by a multivariate logistic regression and multi-linear regression analysis in 232 early postmenopausal women. A lower vitamin E:lipid ratio was associated with osteoporosis in multivariate logistic regression. In a multivariate linear model with BMD of the lumbar spine as a dependent variable, the vitamin E:lipid ratio was clearly related with BMD of the lumbar spine (F ratio = 6.30, p = 0.002). BMD of the lumbar spine was significantly higher in the highest tertile of the vitamin E:lipid ratio than in the lowest tertile. The mean vitamin E:lipid ratio was significantly lower in osteoporotic postmenopausal women (T score ≤-2.5) (3.0 ± 0.6 μmol/mmol) than normal (neither osteoporotic nor osteopenic) postmenopausal women (T score >-1) (3.5 ± 0.7 μmol/mmol) using multivariable-adjusted BMD. These findings highlight that vitamin E may increase BMD in healthy postmenopausal women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthropometry
  • Bone Density / physiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Femur Neck / pathology
  • Femur Neck / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / blood*
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / etiology*
  • Vitamin E / blood*

Substances

  • Vitamin E