Purpose: To investigate the relationship between postmenopausal women's sclerostin levels and bone density and the factors that may affect this relationship.
Materials and methods: 135 postmenopausal patients' ages, BMIs, hormonal statuses, BMD values, and smoking, and consumption of coffee and dairy products were compared with their sclerostin levels.
Results: No statistical relationship was found between sclerostin level and age in the group with osteoporosis (p = 0.204, r = -0.305). There was a positive, high-level relationship between sclerostin levels and BMI in the osteoporosis group and it was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001, r = 0.786). No statistical relationship was found between sclerostin level and age in the non-osteoporosis group with (p = 0.496, r = -0.88). There was a positive, moderate relationship between sclerostin levels and BMI in the non-osteoporosis group and it was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001, r = 0.505). No statistically significant relationship could be found between sclerostin levels and vitamin D (p = 0.723), PTH (p = 0.112), FSH (p = 0.795), E2 (p = 0.627), TSH (p = 0.517), T3 (p = 0.788), and T4 (p = 0.664) blood levels. No significant difference was found among the groups formed by smoking, consumption of coffee and milk, and dairy products, either (p = 0.405; p = 0.626; p = 0.234, respectively). It was monitored that sclerostin's negative effect observed on BMD scores was independent from age; however, it had a positive correlation with BMI.
Conclusion: As blood sclerostin levels increase, bone mineral density decreases. This negative effect of sclerostin on bone density increases as BMI increases, too. Effects of sclerostin levels on bone density are independent from age, and they are not affect by levels of vitamin D: PTH, FSH, E2 and thyroid hormones, and daily activities, such as smoking and consumption of coffee and milk and dairy products, either.
Keywords: Body mass index; Bone mineral density; Coffee; Dairy products; Sclerostin; Smoking.