Objective
Recent studies have suggested that serotonin acts as a mediator of the bone metabolism and suppresses
osteoblast proliferation by binding to its receptor in bone. Several studies reported that bone mineral density (BMD) was
lower in those who used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which increased extracellular serotonin levels.
We investigated the relationship between serum serotonin and BMD.
Methods
Seventy six postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia were enrolled in this study. We checked
serum serotonin level to determine whether the high level of serotonin is associated with the lowering effect of BMD. In
addition, the association between bone turnover markers (osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide of collagen cross-links, CTX)
was investigated. BMD was measured at lumbar spine, femur neck and total hip by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
(DXA).
Results
There was negative correlation between serum serotonin and lumbar spine BMD (P = 0.0145). However, there
was no statistically significant relationship between serotonin and other bone turn over makers.
Conclusion
Serum serotonin was significantly and negatively correlated with lumbar spine BMD.
[Korean Journal of Bone Metabolism, 17(1): 25-29, 2010]
