Abstract

Background
The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of risk factors of cardiovascular disease. The association between components of the MS and bone mineral density has been researched, but no prior studies have directly evaluated the association with the metabolic syndrome and bone mineral density in Korea. Methods: We evaluated postmenopausal women who had visited a university hospital from November 2006 to October 2007. Data on their lifestyle, current medical diseases and medications were collected from medical records. Height, body weight, waist circumference and serum lipid profi les were measured. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 21.8% in this study. In adjusted analysis including age and other factors, only waist circumference had a close correlation with bone mineral density of femur and lumbar vertebral body (P < 0.05). The bone mineral density of femur and lumbar vertebral body had no correlation with the presence of metabolic syndrome. When stratifi ed by body mass index, corrected bone mineral density revealed no signifi cant correlation with the presence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The bone mineral density of postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome has highly influenced by obesity, especially by abdominal obesity.

• Keywords: Osteoporosis; Bone Mineral Density; Metabolic Syndrome; Abdominal Obesity