Atherogenic lipid profile and elevated lipoprotein (a) are associated with lower bone mineral density in early postmenopausal overweight women

Epidemiological studies have reported that women with osteoporosis present an increased risk of cardiovascular events and that lipid lowering therapy (statins) could be associated with a decreased risk of fracture. We investigated whether women with atherogenic lipid profile have lower lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) and higher prevalence of osteopenia than those with normal lipid levels. The study included 52 overweight early postmenopausal women, with no history of hormone replacement therapy, or any current or past pathology or treatment that could alter bone or lipid metabolism. Atherogenic lipid profile or hyperlipidemia was defined as hypercholesterolemia (greater than or equal to240 mg/dl) or high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (high-LDLc,> 160 mg/dl) or high lipoprotein (a) [high-Lp (a),> 25 mg/dI], and low-BMD as t-score < -I SID at lumbar o femoral site. The results show that women with hyperlipidemia had lower mean-adjusted BNID (mean +/- SEM) at lumbar (0.865 +/- 0.020 vs. 0.958 +/- 0.028 g/cm(2), p = 0.007) and femoral neck (0.712 +/- 0.015 vs. 0.796 +/- 0.021, p = 0.004 g/cm(2)) than those with normal lipid levels. Hypercholesterolemia group had higher prevalence of low-BMD at lumbar spine (82.6% vs. 55.2%, p = 0.04, OR: 3.8; 95% Cl: 1.04-14.2) and femoral neck (65.2% vs. 37.9%, p = 0.05, OR: 3.1; 95% CI: 0.98-9.6). The high-LDLc group had also higher prevalence low-BMD at femoral neck (75% vs. 39%, p = 0.01, OR: 4.7; 95% Cl: 1.26-17.5), and the high-Lp (a) group at lumbar spine (87% vs. 51.7% p = 0.007, OR: 6.2; 95% CI: 1.5-25.6). Women with hyperlipidemia had higher prevalence of low BMD at lumbar spine (81.8% vs. 42.1%, p=0.003, OR: 6.2; 95% Cl: 1.7-22) and femoral neck (60.6% vs. 31.6%, p = 0.04, OR: 3.3; 95% Cl: 1.01-11.0). In conclusion, early postmenopausal women with atherogenic lipid profile, defined as cholesterol greater than or equal to240 mg/dI or LDLc,greater than or equal to 160 mg/dI or Lp(a) greater than or equal to 25 mg/dI have lower lumbar and femoral BMD and have an increased risk of osteopenia than those with normal lipid profile, suggesting that hyperlipidemia could be associated with osteoporosis and bone status should be evaluated in women with hyperlipidemia.