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Relationship of Fasting Urinary Calcium to Circulating Estrogen and Body Weight in Postmenopausal Women^*

Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University California, Los Angeles 90024
Department of Medicine (Endocrinology) University of California San Diego, and Veterans Administration Medical Center La Jolla, California 92161

Address reprint requests to: Howard L. Judd, M.D., Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90024.

Circulating estradiol (E₂), estrone (E₁), adrostenedione, and testosterone levels were measured in 40 normal postmenopausal women of widely varying body weights. The fasting urinary calcium to creatinine ratio (Ca:Cr) was also quantitated as an index of bone resorption. Significant positive correlations of E₂ and E₁ were found with body weight and percent ideal weight but not with height, age, or years since menopause. No correlations were observed between circulating androstenedione and testosterone levels and any of these characteristics. Significant negative correlations were noted between Ca:Cr and percent ideal weight and between Ca:Cr and E₂ and E₁ concentrations. Administration of 10 g ethinyl E₂ to 10 postmenopausal subjects for 30 days reduced Ca:Cr to the level observed in 20 premenopausal women. These data suggest that body weight can influence urinary calcium excretion. It is possible that the reduced amounts of endogenous estrogen found in conjunction with low body weight may be a factor contributing to the greater loss of urinary calcium and the more frequent occurrence of osteoporosis in slender postmenopausal women.

^* This work was supported in part by USPHD Grants CA-23093, RR-865, and AM-15888; Eli Lilly and Co.; and Ciba Giegy.

Received June 4, 1979.

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