Modagan¹, Dr. Santhi Silambanan¹, Dr. P. Gopinath Menon² and Dr. P. Arunalatha³

¹Department of Biochemistry, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, India.

²Department of Orthopaedics, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, India.

³Department of Pathology, Stanly Medical College, Chennai, India.

Corresponding Author E-Mail: pmodagan@gmail.com

DOI : https://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bpj/1603

Abstract

Osteoporosis is identifying based on the bone mineral density (BMD). The bone mineral mass or BMD exposes the amount of minerals present in a particular region of bone tissue. BMD measurement by DEXA is consideredas gold standard, but it is very expensive. The people of developing countriesare not interested to check BMD until the occurrence offracture. Therefore present study focusing any association of routine biochemical markers with BMD in osteoporosis and also planning to identify disease distribution status in south India. We examined 773 participants BMD by DEXA scan and grouped into three, Group I (Normal bone mass, n=237), group II (Osteopenia, n=345) and group III (Osteoporosis, n=191). The serum calcium, phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were estimated by automated chemistry analyzer., and Serum 25(OH) vitamin D was analyzed by immunoassay system analyser. The prevalence of normal BMD, osteopenia and osteoporosis was 30.7%, 44.6%and 24.7% respectively.Between 60 and 69 years aged men having more prevalence of osteopenia and in women 50 to 59 years of age. While osteoporosis in men 50 to 59 years and in women’s were 60 to 69 years of age. The serum calcium, ALP and 25 (OH) vitamin D levels were statistically significant (p< 0.001) between the three groups.The higher percentage of low bone mineral density (osteopenia) is the alarming signalto the bone health and this could be continued leads to osteoporosis, which affects the quality of life. This study suggests to determining BMD along with biochemical markers are useful to identify osteoporosis in earlier stage. Therefore routine screening of BMD may prevent the risk of osteoporosis.

Keywords

BMD; DEXA; Fractures; Osteopenia; Osteoporosis; South Indian

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Copy the following to cite this article: Modagan, Silambanan S, Menon P. G, Arunalatha P. Comparison of Bone Mineral Density with Biochemical Parameters and Prevalence of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in South Indian Population. Biomed Pharmacol J 2018;11(4).

Copy the following to cite this URL: Modagan, Silambanan S, Menon P. G, Arunalatha P. Comparison of Bone Mineral Density with Biochemical Parameters and Prevalence of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in South Indian Population. Biomed Pharmacol J 2018;11(4). Available from: http://biomedpharmajournal.org/?p=24872

Introduction

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease attributed by impaired mineralization and disturbs in the microarchitecture of bone tissue, which in turnleads fragility and susceptibility to bone fractures. This is considerable to increase disease and deathrate.^1,2 The prevalence of osteoporosis in Asia and Africa (developing countries) varies from 5% to 68% among women aged greater than 50 years and osteoporotic fractures estimation in south East Asia was 17.4%, given by WHO and International osteoporosis fact sheet.³ In India very few studies have been carried out to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis among post-menopausal women.The prevalence of osteoporosis (very low bone mass) and osteopenia (low bone mass) in Indian women over the age of 50 years approximately 46 million women’s having osteoporosis (year 2015) and 50 million women’s having osteopenia (year 2013); this was reported inKhadilkar and Mandlikstudies. The other few studies osteoporosis prevalence rate from 8% to 62% has been reported.⁴

Bone mineral density is a major factor, which determines the strength and quality of bone; any degree of decline in the normal level of BMD leads to future risk of fracture. BMD measurements by DEXA scan as “Gold standard” for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in post-menopausalwomen. When reporting the BMD results the DEXA scan provides T score. This was major supporting elementsin the clinician for diagnosis of disease. This T score was compared and calculated form the reference standard of gender specific young normal adult skeletal status. Based on the WHO criteria,⁵ osteoporosis is identified by “T-score value of bone mineral density more than 2.5 SD below the mean for young healthy normal adult women (T-score < -2.5). Patients with BMD values between 1 and 2.5 SD below the mean for young adults (T-score between -1.0 and -2.5) are classified as having osteopenia”.⁶

Proper nutrition and maintenance of standard bone mass in first, second and third decades of life may reduce osteoporosis and fracture risk in further decades of life. Several epidemiological studies conclude that a 10% increase in peak bone mass from childhood may decrease adult bone fracture risk in 50%. Thus it is difficult to increase peak bone mass during the first two decades of life, when up to 90% of peak bone mass is gained. Several factors are deciding the optimal skeletal acquisition such as heredity, physical activity, and diet containing Vitamin D and calcium etc.^7,8 Once body growth under normal, the concentrations of bone markers in biological fluids return to a level much below those seen during normal puberty and growth. This stabilisation usually occurs during the 3rd decade and levels of the markers remain more or less unchanged until 70 years of age.⁹

Several studies on osteoporosis traced out the related factors for loss of BMD. They are advanced aging, sex, smoking, menopause, body weight, height, obesity, fat deposition, intake of alcoholic beverages, supplementation of calcium, muscle strength, family history of osteoporosis etc.,² This study was mainly concentrating the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in both male and female adult population and to determine the importance of biochemical markers with BMD in osteoporosis.

Materials and Methods

This cross sectional study was carried out at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, during the period of August 2016 to March 2018. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the institutional ethics committee based on ICMR guidelines on biomedical research in human beings and clinical practice. The written informed consent was obtained from participants voluntarily involved in the study.

Study participants:The individuals attending master health check-up department for whole body health check-up who were referred further for BMD measurements to the DEXA scan and those who willing to answer the study questionaries’ were enrolled in the study. A total of 773 participants with the age group between 30-90 years of both sexes were selected for research study. They were grouped according to T score of BMD into three, Group I = Normal bone mass (n=237), Group II = Osteopenia (n=345) and Group III = Osteoporosis (n=191).

Exclusion Criteria:Patients with malignancy, chronic kidney and liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis,hyperparathyroidism, thyroid disease, chronic smokers, patients on drugs – steroids, Immunosuppressive therapy,antiepileptic’s, bisphosphonates, vitamin-D, calcitonin and teriparatide.

Detailed history of demography, diet, exercise, smoking, menstrual history, medication and previous bone fractures and family history of bone disease were taken.

BMD Measurement:The BMD was assessed using the DEXA densitometer (GE Lunar Prodigy., Advance Bone Densitometer., US) at Left proximal femur (total hip, femoral neck, shaft, Ward’s triangle, and trochanter) and anteroposterior (AP) lumbar spine (L2–L4, L2-L3, and L3-L4) by experienced same technician for entire study. BMD values were expressed as the amount of bone mineral content per cm² area and the obtained values. Every Day before starting DEXA scan a quality assurance block and spine phantom tools were used in measuring the accuracy and performance of the scanner. The T-score was determined based on WHO definition of osteoporosis and osteopenia for Caucasian women: “Normal = T-score at or above -1.0 SD; Osteopenia = -1.0 to -2.5 SD; Osteoporosis = T- score at or below -2.5 SD”.¹⁰

Anthropometric characteristics: The electronic digital scale was used to measure participants actual weight to the nearest 0.1 kg and height was measured using a stadiometer and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated by weight in kg / height in m.² Waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference in cm / hip circumference in cm was determined according to the standard procedure.

Biochemical Analysis:The venous blood (5ml) was collected after overnight fasting. The serum was separated and analysed for the biochemical parameters – 25(OH)vitamin D by chemiluminescencemicroparticle enhanced immunoassay (CMIA) method (Unicel DXI 600., Access Immuno Assay system., BECKMAN COULTER., US) and the CRP by particle enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) method,calcium by O-Cresolphthaleincomplexone method, phosphorus by Fiske and Subbarow method and ALP by pNPP- AMP method (AU680., Chemistry system BECKMAN COULTER., US).

Statistical analysis:The continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and the categorical variables were presented as percentages. One way ANOVA was used to determine statistical difference between group means among the three groups and Tukey’s HSD post hoc test was used to identify and conform where the difference occurred between groups by  SPSS software, version 20 (IBM SPSS Statistics, 20., US). The p value <0.05 is considered statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia were 24.7% and 44.6 % respectively and normal bone mass was 30.7% among the 773 south Indian study population of Tamil Nadu. In the whole study population, 69.3% of people have low bone mineral density, which was combined osteoporosis and osteopenia group and only 30.7% of people have normal BMD. The normal and diseased ratio was 1.0:2.2.

Table 1 represents the percentage distribution of male, pre and post-menopausal females divided into three groups based on BMD.

Table 1: Percentage distribution of three groups of study participants

Total no. of participants = 773	Male 380(49.1%)	Female 393(50.9%)	Pre-menopausal 157(20.3%)	Post-menopausal 236(30.6%)
Group – I (n=237, 30.7%)	131(16.9%)	106(13.8%)	21(2.8%)	85(11%)
Group – II (n=345, 44.6%)	174(22.5%)	171(22.1%)	56(7.2%)	115(14.9%)
Group – III (n=191, 24.7%)	75(9.7%)	116(15%)	80(10.3%)	36(4.7%)

 

Table 2 represents the percentage differences in six categories of age groups. According to this study results the highest prevalence of osteopenia in male was observed in the age group of 60 to 69 years and in the females 50 to 59 years. While osteoporosis in male was 50 to 59 years and in females were 60 to 69 years of age.

Table 2: Age group wise percentage distribution of three groups of study participants

Age group (years)	Group-I (n=237)		Group-II (n=345)		Group-III (n=191)
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
30-39	20(8.4%)	24(10.1%)	22(6.4%)	17(4.9%)	5(2.6%)	3(1.6%)
40-49	26(11%)	39(16.5%)	43(12.5%)	31(9.0%)	10(5.2%)	9(4.7%)
50-59	35(14.8%)	28(11.8%)	40(11.6%)	63(18.2%)	27(14.1%)	27(14.1%)
60-69	34(14.3%)	12(5.1%)	52(15.1%)	47(13.6%)	17(9%)	52(27.2%)
70-79	14(5.9%)	3(1.4%)	16(4.6%)	12(3.5%)	12(6.3%)	20(10.5%)
80-89	2(0.8%)	–	1(0.3%)	1(0.3%)	4(2.1%)	5(2.6%)

 

Table 3 showed ANOVA reports of group mean, standard deviation and p values of anthropometric, biochemical and DEXA baseline characteristics of osteopenia, osteoporosis and normal bone mass in the study participants.

Table 3: ANOVA results of anthropometric, biochemical and DEXA findings of the study participants

Characteristics	Group – I(n=237) Mean ± SD	Group – II(n=345) Mean ± SD	Group – III(n=191) Mean ± SD	p value
Age(years)	51±12	54±11	60±11	< 0.001
BMI(kg/m2)	24.3±3.4	27.02±4.9	23.6±4.9	< 0.001
WR	1.0±0.5	1.05±0.5	1.02±0.6	< 0.001
Calcium(mg/dl)	9.5±0.3	9.1±0.3	8.9±0.5	< 0.001
Phosphorous(mg/dl)	3.8±0.4	3.9±1.1	3.8±0.4	0.632
ALP(U/L)	92.8±16.3	92.2±31	103.6±42	< 0.001
25OH Vit. D(ng/ml)	19.8±7.4	22.7±9.4	14.3±7.5	< 0.001
NF BMD(g/cm2)	1.09±0.16	0.890±0.11	0.704±0.1	< 0.001
NF T score	0.03±0.9	-1.5±0.425	-2.9±0.49	< 0.001
LS BMD(g/cm2)	1.16±0.1	0.964±0.08	0.801±0.09	< 0.001
LS T Score	0.1±1.05	-1.6±0.43	-3.0±0.76	< 0.001

SD: standard deviation, BMI: body mass index, WR: waist hip ratio, ALP: alkaline phosphatase, 25 OH Vit. D: 25 hydroxy vitamin D, NF BMD: neck of femur bone mineral density, NF T score: neck of femur T score, LS BMD: lumbar spine bone mineral density, LS T Score: lumbar spine T Score

Table 3a presents the specific group comparison reports of tukey’s HSD post hoc test in biochemical parameters and bone mineral density among three groups.

Table 3a: Results of tukey’s HSD post hoc test (biochemical and DEXA findings) among the three groups

Characteristics	Group	Std. Error	95% Confidence Interval		p value
			Lower Bound	Upper Bound
Calcium(mg/dl)	I vs II	.03425	.2977	.4586	<0.0001
	I vs III	.03947	.4961	.6815	<0.0001
	II vs III	.03661	.1247	.2966	<0.0001
Phosphorous(mg/dl)	I vs II	.06998	-.2283	.1004	0.632
	I vs III	.08065	-.2074	.1714	0.973
	II vs III	.07481	-.1297	.2216	0.812
ALP(U/L)	I vs II	2.65976	-5.6008	6.8907	0.968
	I vs III	3.06546	-17.9807	-3.5837	<0.001
	II vs III	2.84329	-18.1039	-4.7504	<0.0001
25-OH Vit. D(ng/ml)	I vs II	.71213	-4.4997	-1.1551	<0.0001
	I vs III	.82075	3.5945	7.4492	<0.0001
	II vs III	.76127	6.5616	10.1369	<0.0001
NF BMD(g/cm2)	I vs II	.01093	.1764	0.2278	<0.0001
	I vs III	0.01260	.3580	.4172	0.000
	II vs III	0.01169	.1580	.2129	0.000
LS BMD(g/cm2)	I vs II	0.01281	.1676	.2277	0.000
	I vs III	0.01476	.3261	.3954	0.000
	II vs III	0.01369	.1309	.1953	0.000

 

ALP: alkaline phosphatase, NF BMD: neck of femur bone mineral density, NF T score: neck of femur T score, LS BMD: lumbar spine bone mineral density, LS T Score: lumbar spine T Score

Discussion

A bone mineral density examination can provide a progress of your bone health, identification of osteoporosis, osteopenia or low bone mass and determination of risk of fractures and monitored the treatment responses. The most widely recognized BMD test called DEXA scan, this was used to identify people with osteoporosis.¹¹

Bala S et al reported that the prevalence of osteoporosis in rural and urban post-menopausal women of Hyderabad 51% and 35% respectively and osteopenia 16% and 38% respectively. Another study among the post-menopausal rural Haryana and urban Delhi found that 78% and 58%.³

We found that low bone mass and very low bone mass was 69.3% (osteopenia (44.6%) and osteoporosis (24.7%)) and normal bone mass was 30.7% among the 773 participants. In the female study population the osteopenia was higher in post-menopausal women (14.9%) and osteoporosis was higher in pre-menopausal women (10.3%).

Our study reveals that the highest prevalence of osteopenia in male was observed in the age group of 60 to 69 years and in the female 50 to 59 years. While osteoporosis in male was 50 to 59 years and in females were 60 to 69 years of age.

According to Asian criteria the BMI ranges from 18.5 to 22.9 is considered normal weight, 23 to 24.9 overweight, 25 to 29.9  pre obese and >30 obese.¹²

Based on this criteria our study participants of osteopenia group reached in the pre-obese state (27.02 ± 4.9) and in the osteoporosis group is in normal (23.6 ± 4.9). The BMI significantly raised in osteopenia group (< 0.001) compared with the other two groups. Similarly the waist hip ratio also increased in osteopenia group (1.05±0.5) compared with normal bone mass and osteoporosis group.

Morin et al. had previously confirmed that obese people having high BMD.¹³ But in our study report was contrast from the above study result.

KhatakePDet al reported that the mean serum calcium was 8.34±0.47 in postmenopausal women. Calcium ion is an essential structural and integral component of the bone. Estrogens deficiency leads to increased loss of calcium by indirect effects of extra skeletal calcium regulation and impaired calcium absorption in intestinal tissue, this was occurring in women with after menopause. Deficiency of calcium, due to hormonal dysregulation and malabsorption may lead to disorders of bone mainly in the case of osteopenia and osteoporosis.¹⁴

Our study result represents the mean serum calcium levels in osteopenia and osteoporosis were 9.1mg/dl and 8.9 mg/dl respectively. And the baseline levels of serum phosphorous were not statistically significant among the three groups.

Bandeira Fet al reported that vitamin D (25 OH) deficiency was associated with lower BMD at neck of femur. Labronici PJ et al found that 91.1% of patients (osteopenia) have low BMD associated with least vitamin D levels and 62.5% of patients with osteoporosis have low BMD associated with vitamin D deficiency.¹⁵ In concordance with above studies the low BMD and 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiencies (14.3ng/dl ±7.5) is highly associated in osteoporosis and highly statistical significant difference (< 0.001) was observed between the three groups.

The present study reveals that the serum ALP level significantly increased in osteoporosis (<0.001) and there was no statistical difference in normal bone mass (92.8±16.3) and osteopenia (92.2±31). Therefore ALP level could be used as a preclinical assessment tool for osteoporosis.

Conclusion

The occurrence of osteoporosis and osteopenia is not restricted to post-menopausal women; it is found to be prevalent in men and pre-menopausal women as well. The complication of osteoporosis cause clinical and economic burden of people living in developing countries, this may due to lack of awareness and expensive screening test leads to complete decline in quality of life. More number of studies needed for simple and low cost screening test for BMD. Osteoporosis is a preventable disease therefore routine BMD measurement along with biochemical markers estimation would giveabetter understanding of disease and improves the clinical and nutritional management.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Founder Chancellor Sri N.P.V. Ramasamy Udayar Research Fellowship in Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute.

Conflict of interest

None

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