Intestinal Microecology And Expressions Of Serum Fibroblast Growth Factors In Women With Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Objective: We aimed to investigate the intestinal microecology and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) expression in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) and their clinical value in the diagnosis of PMO. Methods: A total of 214 postmenopausal women were analyzed retrospectively. The women were divided into the abnormal group (103 cases) and the normal group (111 cases) according to their bone mineral density (BMD). The levels of intestinal microflora and serum FGF-21, FGF-23, alpha-klotho, and beta-klotho were compared between the two groups, and the correlations of intestinal microflora, FGF-23, alpha-klotho, and beta-klotho with BMD were analyzed. The women in the abnormal group were further divided into the osteoporosis subgroup (59 cases) and the osteopenia subgroup (44 cases) for comparison. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to analyze the diagnostic value of intestinal microflora, FGF-23, alpha-klotho and beta-klotho for PMO. Results: Compared with the normal group, the abnormal group had lower levels of bifidobacterium, lactobacillus, alpha-klotho, and beta-klotho and higher levels of enterococcus and FGF-23 (all P<0.05). BMD was closely correlated with the levels of intestinal microflora, FGF23, alpha-klotho, and beta-klotho (all P<0.05). Compared with the osteopenia group, the osteoporosis group had lower levels of bifidobacterium, lactobacillus, alpha-klotho, and beta-klotho and higher levels of enterococcus and FGF-23 (all P<0.05). ROC analysis revealed the clinical value of lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, enterococcus, FGF-23, alpha-klotho, and beta-klotho in diagnosing PMO (all area under the curve >0.70). Conclusion: The levels of intestinal microflora and serum FGF-23, alpha-klotho, and beta-klotho are closely associated with the development of PMO, and these markers have clinical value in the diagnosis of PMO.