Stress Factors Increase Osteoporosis: A Comparative Assessment of Osteocalcin and Cortisol Levels in Menopausal Women

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis a consequence of menopause in the biological cycle of women,emerges with the conclusion of reproductive capabilities.Hormonal changes during this phase contribute to the development of the disease.The study evaluated the relationship between stress,salivary cortisol levels,and Osteocalcin in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
METHODS: The study involved 60 postmenopausal volunteers diagnosed with osteoporosis.Stress levels were assessed using the NIH stress score system to validate cortisol levels.Saliva and blood samples were analyzed using LC-MS/MS and ELISA methods.Statistical analyses,including the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test paired samples t-tests, and correlation analyses,were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0.A significance level of p<0.05 was considered.
RESULTS: In comparing stress scores between the 1st/2nd weeks,a statistically significant difference was observed(z=4.795,p<0.001),indicating a higher mean stress score in the 2nd week.Cortisol levels showed a significant increase from the 1st week(27.58±3.97) to the 2nd week(29.99±2.44)(t=4.412,p<0.001).Osteocalcin values exhibited a significant difference between the 1st week(21.04±0.98) and the 2nd week(24.22±1.44)(t=9.656, p<0.001). Examining participant variations, the mean difference in stress scores was 7.73±2.23, the mean difference in cortisol levels was 2.41±2.99, and the mean difference in osteocalcin levels was 3.18±1.81.A weak positive statistically significant relationship was found between stress score difference and Cortisol difference(r=0.363, p=0.049).In contrast, an intermediate-level positive statistically significant relationship was observed between Osteocalcin difference and Cortisol difference(r=0.586, p=0.001).Findings highlight the intricate relationships between stress,cortisol levels,and Osteocalcin.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Contrary to some existing findings,our study suggests that menopause,as a stress-inducing factor,leads to an increase in bone metabolism markers,including Cortisol.Insights contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the interplay between stress,hormonal changes,and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.