Precedence of bone loss over changes in body composition and body fat distribution within a few years after menopause

Objective: The present study investigated the sequence of certain phenomena with a few years after menopause: bone mineral loss, decrease in lean body mass, increase in body fat mass, or the shift toward upper body fat distribution. Methods: Subjects were 64 postmenopausal women aged 50-53 years with right side dominance (mean age+/-S.D., 51.4+/-1.1 years), and 59 age-matched regularly menstruating premenopausal women (51.7+/-1.2 years) serving as controls. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI, wt./ht.(2)), age at menopause (in postmenopausal women), and years since menopause (YSM) were recorded. Anthropometries, bone mineral density (BMD), and body fat distribution were assessed by dual-energy. X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Age at menopause and YSM in postmenopausal women were 51.7+/-1.2 and 2.3+/-1.7 years, respectively. Age, height, weight, BMI did not differ between the two groups. BMD of the bilateral arm, lumbar spine (L2-4), pelvis, and total body were significantly lower in postmenopausal women. However, leg BMD, trunk-leg fat ratio, body fat mass, and the lean body mass did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion: Within a few years after menopause, bone mineral loss precedes lean mass loss, increase in body fat mass, and a shift toward upper body fat distribution. We can say that bone tissue is more sensitive to hypogonadism than lean and fat tissues are. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.