Association between bile acid turnover and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Objective The intestinal absorption of vitamin D is linked to bile acid absorption. This link may be abnormal in patients with osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relation between osteoporosis and bile acid turnover, measured as whole-body Se-75-HCAT retention (WBR), in postmenopausal women. Patients and methods Whole-body counts were recorded using an uncollimated gamma camera 3 h and 7 days after oral administration of Se-75-homocholic acid taurine (Se-75-HCAT) in 16 women aged 58-85 years with dual-photon X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)-proven osteoporosis. WBR was expressed as physical decay-corrected counts at 7 days as a percentage of the counts at 3 h. Results Seven patients had unexplained diarrhoea. Six patients (five with diarrhoea) had WBR less than 19%. There was a significant difference in DEXA t-score between women with and without diarrhoea (P < 0.02). There was a significant negative correlation (R-s = -0.58; P < 0.02) between WBR and alcohol consumption rated on a three-point scale: <1, 2-7 and >7 U/week. Conclusion Our results indicate an association between osteoporosis and diarrhoea that may be the result of abnormal bile acid turnover. The role of alcohol requires further investigation. (C) 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.