Endocrine Abstracts

In this study, we aimed to investigate the causes of elevated PTH levels in postmenopausal women without the use of drugs that may affect of PTH levels and without concomitant diseases.

A total of 156 postmenopausal women, aged ≥ 50 years, had no menstruation for at least 2 years and had no disease known to affect calcium metabolism were considered. Education, occupation, average duration of exposure to sunlight per day in summer and winter, consumption of calcium-rich foods of people were questioned. Participants were divided into four groups according to their educational levels, and they were divided into two groups according to their religious beliefs: covered and non-covered people. They were also classified according to their occupational status as housewives, workers and retired people. Sunlight exposure behavior was measured by one question; less than 30 min was considered inadequate exposure, from 30 to 60 min was considered moderate exposure and more than 60 min exposure was considered sufficient. People, who had more than daily 500 mg calcium consumption and less than daily 500 mg calcium consumption, were divided into two groups.

When all cases were evaluated together, serum PTH levels were significantly higher in housewives than workers and retired people (P<0.001); in participants with less than a high school graduates than more than with a high school graduates (P=0.008); in covered people than non-covered people (P=0.025). Living alone and smoking were found to have no effect on serum PTH levels. PTH levels were not significantly different between with adequate calcium consumption and inadequate calcium consumption and between insufficient sunlight exposure and sufficient sunlight exposure.

Considering all cases, women whom are defined as housewife, dressed up covering their head and arms and with education level less than high school have statistically significant elevated parathyroid hormone levels.