[The effect of menopause on serum levels of calcium and inorganic phosphorus (author's transl)].

Serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline-phosphatase were determined in 3,191 women as a part of a multiphasic health testing program. A fasting sample of blood was drawn between 9 and 11 a.m. and the separated serum was applied to a Technicon Autoanalyzer SMA 12/60 and measured. In 527 women, who were found to have no abnormalities on the other laboratory tests or by the physical examination, were the results of determination studied in relation to age and menstrual status. The values obtained from 13,258 men were employed as a control. In regularly menstruating women the serum calcium level was decreased with the advance of age. Once the menstrual cycle had got irregular toward the menopause, the serum calcium level was rapidly increased, reached maximum in 2-5 years after the menopause, and was slightly decreased thereafter. The serum inorganic phosphorus level also varied in a similar attitude. On the other hand both the serum calcium and phosphorus levels in men were gradually reduced with the advance of age and no fluctuation was observed. Alkaline-phosphatase in serum was distinctly enhanced in the postmenopause. These data indicate that the decline in estrogen secretion results in hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia and that a prophylactic estrogen therapy may be considered at the early stage of the postmenopause for preventing the increased bone resorption.