Simple Urine Test to Indicate Bone Fracture Risk Prior to Menopause: New Study

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Check bone deterioration in a urine test prior to menopause and take precautions. Image courtesy: WebMD

A new study published in the journal, Menopause, talks about a simple urine test that can indicate a woman’s risk of bone fracture prior to her reaching menopause, reports Nicholas Bakalar of New York Times.

Bone deterioration is a common problem faced by women as they approach menopause. Checking bone health prior to reaching menopause would give them more time to take precautionary measures to ensure less damage and maybe even maintain health of the bones through supplements, life style etc.

There are many bone deterioration indicators but these are often used by women of 65 years and over. The new research talks about a substance called cross-linked N-telopeptide of Type 1 collagen, or NTX. This is releases into urine when bones begin to weaken and can be detected to predict the risk of fractures in the future, among pre-menopausal women.

The lead author of the study, Jane A. Cauley , professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, in the Times,

What these data suggest is that women with higher than average NTX values around menopause should be targeted for a bone density scan to help identify those at risk for fracture.