The relationship of serum and urine boron levels with bone markers in early postmenopausal women

The aim of our study is to correlate serum and urine levels with bone markers in 31 women who have been diagnosed with menopause and 25 healthy women as a control group. Boron (B), osteocalcin (OC), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, estrogen, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured in sera taken from the menopause and control group. In addition, boron, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and hydroxyproline (Hyp) were measured from urine samples. Boron was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with coated graphite furnace. There was no significant difference in serum calcitonin, OC and Ca concentration between groups. In contrast, serum concentration of B, P, Mg, PTH, Cu, Zn were significantly higher and of ALP was lower in the control group (p < 0.05). Serum and urine B levels were found to be significantly lower in the menopause group. Low urine levels indicate low intake of boron by menopause women