Follicle-stimulating hormone is associated with low bone mass in postmenopausal women
Authors' conclusion
FSH is associated with higher odds of having low bone mass/osteoporosis even after accounting for HT use. FSH is a mediator of the relationship between estradiol and BMD in healthy postmenopausal women.
Study context
- Population
- Postmenopausal women
- Participants
- 675 women
- Exposure
- Highest vs lowest serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) tertile
- Outcome
- DXA areal BMD and low bone mass or osteoporosis (T-score < - 1.0) of the femoral neck and total hip
Methodological detailsstratified by serum estradiol (cut at the median), Sobel test mediation analysis
- Stratified by serum estradiol (cut at the median)
- Sobel test mediation analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Low bone mass/osteoporosis at the femoral neck
Highest FSH tertile vs Lowest FSH tertileOdds ratio (95% CI)
Fully adjusted logistic regression
2.98(1.86–4.77)
At the total hip; fully adjusted
1.74(1.06–2.84)
- Significant inverse association of serum FSH with both femoral neck and total hip bone mineral density (BMD), adjusted for age, hormone therapy (HT) use and diabetes
- both p < 0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Effect modification by estradiol
- Evidence of effect modification by estradiol in stratified models and an interaction term
FSH as mediator of the estradiol-BMD relationship
- Estimated attenuation of the estradiol-BMD relationship
- 70%
- Sobel test
- Sobel p value < 0.001
Original publication
Follicle-stimulating hormone is associated with low bone mass in postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int. Published 24 January 2023. doi:10.
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