The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women.

We evaluated 200 postmenopausal women who were visiting a health promotion center at a university hospital from January 2009 to December 2011. Their current medical diseases and medication history were collected through medical records. Basic physical examinations and laboratory tests were performed on all subjects.

The levels of serum GGT within their normal range were positively correlated with waist circumference (P = 0.01), triglycerides (P <0.001), alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.009), and uric acid (P = 0.01). The serum GGT within their normal range were negatively associated with the femur neck BMD (P = 0.002). In adjusted analysis including age and body mass index, the BMD of the femur neck was more strongly associated with a high-normal serum GGT level among the postmenopausal women as compared with those with a low-normal serum GGT level (P = 0.02).

Serum GGT within its normal range is negatively correlated with the BMD in the femur neck among postmenopausal women. It can be useful for selecting a group that is at high risk for the bone fracture regardless of the underlying mechanism.