Assessment of the levels of serum parathyroid hormone in rural postmenopausal women in Zuturung district, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

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Keywords

Body mass index, Menopause, Northern Nigeria, Osteoporosis, Parathyroid hormone Waist circumference, Zuturung

Abstract

The physiological role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in calcium homeostasis and the
maintenance of bone mass in humans has been elucidated by several authors. The main
objective of the present study was to evaluate basal PTH levels in premenopausal,
perimenopausal and postmenopausal women in Zuturung district, Kaduna state, Nigeria. One
hundred and thirty-five subjects comprising of 38 premenopausal, 22 perimenopausal and 75
postmenopausal women were assessed. The subjects were selected based on some inclusion
and exclusion criteria. After administering a questionnaire, anthropometrical parameters were
determined using standard methods while five milliliters of blood were collected via
venipuncture. The blood was transferred to plain bottles, centrifuged and serum PTH levels
were determined using ELISA method at the Department of Chemical Pathology, Ahmadu
Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika. Results were presented as mean ± SD and data
were analyzed using ANOVA with p<0.05 being considered as statistically significant. The
study revealed that postmenopausal and perimenopausal women were more likely to be
overweight (mean BMI 26.07±5.99 kg/m2, 26.42±7.27kg/m2 respectively) as compared with
their premenopausal counterparts (25.18±3.48kg/m2); p<0.001. The postmenopausal and
perimenopausal women also had a higher waist circumference (89.63±10.66cm,
92.19±11.91cm) as compared with the premenopausal women (83.73±8.00cm) p<0.001. Mean
serum parathyroid hormone levels were slightly decreased among the postmenopausal subjects
(2.25±1.88pg/ml) and perimenopausal (2.91±1.44pg/ml) as compared to the premenopausal
subjects (3.38±3.48pg/ml) although not significant (p>0.05). These findings suggest a higher
cardiovascular risk and lower mean serum parathyroid hormone in the postmenopausal women
as compared with their premenopausal subjects.
We recommend further studies in a larger sample, comparing with women in urban regions
and determining serum cadmium levels in the subjects to identify if its toxicity is responsible
for the pattern of serum parathyroid hormone levels observed.