Potential value of urinary oestrogen assays in the identification of fast bone losers after the menopause.

We determined the rate of change of bone mineral content (BMC) in the distal forearm of 89 healthy postmenopausal women by single-photon absorptiometry. The BMC measurements were taken at 6- or 12-monthly intervals for up to 4 years. Urinary oestrogen excretion and anthropometry were assessed at the time of the first BMC measurement. Urinary oestradiol glucuronide (E2G) excretion was related to the rate of change of 'proximal' BMC in women 1-7 years past the menopause (r = 0.52, p less than 0.01). Body mass index was less highly correlated with the rate of change of BMC in these women (r = 0.41, p less than 0.05). We conclude that urinary E2G excretion could contribute to a screening procedure for the assessment in women soon after the menopause of the risk of osteoporotic fracture in later life.