Plasma BGP: an indicator of spontaneous bone loss and of the effect of oestrogen treatment in postmenopausal women

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Abstract
One hundred and ninety‐one healthy early postmenopausal women, aged 45–54 years, were randomized to 2 years of treatment with (a) percutaneous 17β‐oestradiol combined with progesterone (n = 29) or placebo (n = 28); (b) oral oestradiol valerate combined with cyproterone acetate (n = 37) or placebo (n = 39); (c) 24R, 25 (OH)2D3 (n = 29) or placebo (n = 29). We measured the plasma bone Gla‐protein (BGP), bone mineral content of the proximal forearms (BMC), bone mineral density in the spine (BMDspine) and total body bone mineral (TBBM) in all the women before, and during, the study. In the groups of women receiving the oestrogen preparations, the plasma BGP decreased highly significantly (P < 0·001) to a premenopausal level. The initial plasma BGP concentration was significantly related to the loss of BMC (P < 0001) in the placebo groups. The changes in plasma BGP were an indicator of the oestrogen response on BMC. We conclude that serial determinations of plasma BGP are useful for determination of the effect of oestrogen therapy in groups of patients, and that plasma BGP measured at the time of the menopause indicates what the rate of bone loss will be.