BLOOD IRON RELATIONSHIP WITH HORMONE REPLACEMENT

BLOOD IRON RELATIONSHIP WITH HORMONE REPLACEMENT

BLOOD IRON RELATIONSHIP WITH HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
AND BONE MINERAL DENSITY
Novatzky, G.A. 1, Maurer, L.H. 1, Unfer, T.C.1, Müller, E.I. 2, Flores, E.M.M. 2, Dressler, V.L.2 ,
Silva, J.C.N. 3, Duarte, M.M.M.F.2, Emanuelli, T.1, Rocha, J.B.T.2.
1
Departamento de Tecnologia e Ciência dos Alimentos, Centro de Ciências Rurais,
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
2
Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal
de Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
3
Departamento de Clínica Médica, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal
de Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Iron is the most abundant trace element in the human body and the cessation of
menstruation increases iron body stores. There is some evidence that iron
overloaded could be accumulated in bone and involved in the pathogenesis of
metabolic bone diseases in rats and humans. We determined blood iron
concentrations and their relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) and some
biochemical parameters in menopausal women. Blood iron concentrations, BMD,
serum hormone levels (FSH and E2) and Hct% were determined in
premenopausal (n=24) and postmenopausal women without (n=24) or with
hormone replacement therapy (HRT, n=22) (mean ages: 47, 59 and 57 y,
respectively). Blood iron (mg/l) concentrations in premenopausal (31.6±3.0) and
postmenopausal women without (28.8±2.5) or with (26.0±2.7) HRT were not
significantly different. L1–L4 and femoral BMD (g/cm2) were significantly higher in
premenopausal women (1.05±0.02 and 0.84±0.02) when compared both to
postmenopausal women without (0.90±0.03 and 0.75±0.02) and with (0.93±0.03
and 0.73±0.01) HRT. However, BMD had no relationship with blood iron. The
duration of menopause and Hct% were significant predictors of blood iron
concentrations. In this study whole blood iron concentrations had no significant
effect in BMD and other biochemical parameters in pre and postmenopausal
women. However, BMD was negatively influenced by FSH concentrations and
associated with age.
Keywords: Menopause; Hormone replacement therapy; Iron; Estrogen; FSH.
Supported by FAPERGS.