Effects of statins upon bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia

Objective To explore the effects of statins upon bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolic markers in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. Methods A prospective study was conducted for 100 women receiving treatment from January 2011 to August 2012 and meeting the inclusion criteria of osteopenia or osteoporosis with hypercholesterolemia postmenopausal.They were randomly divided into treatment group on atorvastatin 10 mg once daily and control group.The parameters of lumbar BMD, bone resorption markers of typeⅠ collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX), bone synthesis markers procollagen typeⅠ N-terminal peptide (PINP) were compared between two groups after half a year and one year. Results There was an upward trend of lumbar spine BMD and PINP in the treatment group at half a year and one year compared with the control group.And two groups had significant difference (P<0.05).Although two groups had no significant difference in all parameters at half a year,the values of lumbar spine BMD and PINP were higher in the treatment group at one year than the control group.Two groups had significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusions Statins can help maintain or increase bone mass of hypercholesterolemic menopausal women through promoting bone synthesis. Key words: Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors; Osteoporosis, postmenopausal;  Bone density