Atherogenic Lipid Profile and Elevated Lipoprotein (a) Are Associated with Lower Bone Mineral Density in Early Postmenopausal Overweight Women

Epidemiological studies have reported that women with osteoporosis present an increased risk of cardiovascular events and that lipid lowering therapy (statins) could be associated with a decreased risk of fracture. We investigated whether women with atherogenic lipid profile have lower lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) and higher prevalence of osteopenia than those with normal lipid levels. The study included 52 overweight early postmenopausal women, with no history of hormone replacement therapy, or any current or past pathology or treatment that could alter bone or lipid metabolism. Atherogenic lipid profile or hyperlipidemia was defined as hypercholesterolemia (≥240 mg/dl) or high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (high-LDLc ≥160 mg/dl) or high lipoprotein (a) [high-Lp (a) ≥25 mg/dl], and low-BMD as t-score