Trace elements and postmenopausal manifestations

ABSTRACT

Postmenopausal women frequently suffer from oral complications, the etiology of which is still not clear. Various etiologic possibilities have been presented by various authors but none is completely satisfactory. Since several trace elements play important roles in vital biochemical reactions and since various trace element changes accompany different groups of diseases and endocrinological disorders, the serum levels of three important trace elements that is zinc, strontium and magnesium were measured in twenty postmenopausal and twenty menstruating non lactating women. Clinically postmenopausal women showed significantly increased gingival and periodontal indices and 60% of them had abnormal or diminished taste sensations. Serum zinc and strontium were significantly decreased while magnesium level showed no significant difference. Zinc is crucial to growth development and normal functions of all living forms, it is an essensial component of many enzyme and both DNA and RNA polymerases are zinc metalloenzymes. Its deficiency in animals is associated with manifestations simulating those occuring in postmenopause. Strontium is deposited in much greater quantities in calcified tissues than other trace elements and seems to be of importance in bone calcification. The present work presents an evidence that deficiency of zinc, strontium and possibly other trace elements occurs in the postmenopause and might be responsible for at least some of its manifestations. Supplementation of these trace elements in the treatment of postmenopausal oral complications is worthwhile