Bone mass and bone modelling markers in hypertensive postmenopausal women

Numerous phosphocalcium alterations associated with bone mineral density in hypertension have been described, but very few studies assess them. This study assesses bone mass in hypertensive postmenopausal women and the hypertension influence determining both calcium homeostasis and bone turnover markers. Blood and urine samples were analysed for calcium metabolism-related parameters. Densitometry studies were conducted in the lumbar spine (L2-L4). Hypertensive osteoporotic women - selected from 82 women, with 22% osteoporosis prevalence, similar to the rate for the same age in the Spanish population - had significantly higher levels of body mass index (29 ± 4 vs 26 ± 4, P = 0.019), calciuria (293 ± 146 vs 210 ± 116 mg/24 h, P = 0.023) and calcium/creatinine ratio (0.33 ± 0.2 vs 0.22 ± 0.1 P = 0.003) vs hypertensive nonosteoporotic women. No relation was found between systolic and diastolic blood pressure with bone mass. However, there was a negative osteocalcin correlation (r= -0.386, P=0.0001, and r= -0.242, P=0.033). Calciuria is associated with bone mass decrease in hypertensive women, and there is no relation between bone mass and blood pressure.