Sr and Fe relationship with hormone replacement therapy and bone mineral density.

Background: We determined blood strontium (Sr) and iron (Fe) concentrations and their relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) and some biochemical parameters in premenopausal and postmenopausal women without or with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Methods: Blood Sr and Fe concentrations, BMD, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), 17beta-estradiol (E2), creatinine, albumin, blood calcium and alkaline phosphatase activity were determined in premenopausal and postmenopausal women without or with HRT (mean ages: 47, 59, and 57 y, respectively).
Results: Blood Sr (microg/l) and Fe (mg/l) concentrations in premenopausal (31.65+/-2.96 and 496.05+/-14.37) and postmenopausal women without (28.85+/-2.48 and 525.27+/-8.56) or with (25.98+/-2.73 and 535.77+/-17.57) HRT were not significantly different. BMD L1-L4 and BMD femur (g/cm2) were significantly higher in premenopausal women (1.05+/-0.02 and 0.84+/-0.02) when compared both to postmenopausal women without (0.90+/-0.03 and 0.75+/-0.02) and with (0.93+/-0.03 and 0.73+/-0.01) HRT. However, BMD had no relationship with blood metal concentrations. E2 concentrations were lower in postmenopausal women without HRT, while FSH concentrations were higher in both postmenopausal groups (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Physiological whole blood Sr and Fe concentrations had no significant effect in BMD and other biochemical parameters in pre and postmenopausal women. However, BMD was negatively influenced by FSH concentrations and associated with age.