Changes Of Bone Mass And Biochemical Markers Of Bone Metabolism In Postpartum Women

The objectives of this study were to exp1ore changesof bone mass and biochemica1 ffiarkers of bone metabo1ism in post-partum women, and to determine the effects of age, height, weight,body mass index and resumptive time of menstruation on changesin BMD. Twenty--four hea1thy women(2l--35yr) weI.e followed across6 mo postpartum period. Lumbar spine BMD(inc1uding anteroposteri-or and 1ateral) and femora1 neck BMD were measured by DEXA at 3rd--5rd day, the beginning of 4 and 7 mo postparturition. Serum osteoca-1cin, ICTP, estradio1, ca1cium and phosphorus were measured at thesame time. Comparisons were with BMD of twenty non--postpartumwomen. This study found that anteroposterior BMD of 1uInbny spineand femoraI neck BMD in 1actating women had a significant increaseat the beginning of 4 and 7 mo postparturition compared with thatat 3rd--5rd postpartur.ition (p<0. 05) ) iatera1 BMD of 1umbar spinea1so had a significant increase at the beginning of 7 mo post-parturition compared with that at 3rd--5rd dny and the beginningof 4 mo postparturition (p<0. 01);BMD of 1umbar spine and femora1neck in postpartum women increased to the 1eve1 of nonWepostpartumwomen's during the 6--mo postpartum period. Resu1ts a1so shows thatthe ser.um 1eve1 of osteoca1cin increased significant1y(p(0. 0l)at the beginning of 4 and 7 mo postpartum compared with that at3rd~5rd day postpartum whi1e the ser.um 1eve1s of ICTP and estrad-io1 dec1 ined signifi cant1y (p<0. 01); that serum ca1cium concentra-tion increased significant1y(p<0. 0l) during the first 3 monthspostparturition whi1e serum phosphorus concentration had nosignificant changes during the 6----mo postpartum period, but bothin norma1 range; and that resuIIlPtive time of menstruation wasnegative1y associated with increase of bone mass, whereasage, height, weight and bone mass index were not associated. Theresu1ts indicate it is possib1e that bone aress increasecontinous1y to the leve1 of non--postpartum women's during the 6--mopostpartum period in 1actating woman, the process of bone tuInovergrows fast while the speed of bone formation exceeds that of boneabsorption, and pro1onged postpartum amenorrhea disadvantagesincrease of bone mass in postparturition.