01 Saliva   Ca [mg/L] 61.691 ± 36.851 70.771 ± 57.572 NS   Zn [mg/L] 2.043 ± 1.511 2.652 ± 1.792 NS   Cu [μg/L] 114.644 ± 78.362 78.321 ± 61.691 NS Serum   Ca++ ionized (mmol/L) 1.21 ± 0.07 1.20 ± 0.06 NS   Ca (mmol/l) 2.36 ± 0.10 2.36 ± 0.11 NS   Zn [mg/L] 1.042 ± 0.242 1.161 ± 0.222 NS   Cu [mg/L] 0.741 ± 0.205 0.713 ± 0.212 NS   Phosphate (mg/dL) 3.16 ± 0.51 3.08 ± 0.55 NS   PTH

(pg/mL) 58.69 ± 28.31 56.56 ± 22.04 NS   25(OH)D (ng/mL) 24.33 ± 6.29 22.19 ± 5.63 NS   Alkaline phosphatase (sALP) [IU/L] 55.14 ± 15.81 62.35 ± 17.59 NS   Osteocalcin (ng/mL) 19.87 ± 6.05 18.75 ± 4.62 NS NS denote not statistically significant differences Discussion Our study showed coincidence of reduced spine PF-562271 BMD and local enamel copper deficits in a group of patients suffering from a rare disorder: advanced tooth wear. This association was independent of dietary intake of copper or serum content of this element either. Some properties of saliva are considered an important biological factor affecting the rate of dental erosion, transporting ions, and mineralization balance [44, 45]; however, the low enamel copper in our patients was unaffected by salivary concentrations of this trace element. Considering

other variables studied, i.e., bone formation markers, PTH, vitamin D status, or menopausal status in women, the decreased selleck products copper concentration may potentially play a role in the pathophysiology of mineralized tissues in human body. Whether there is a casual link between the Cu depletion in situ,

susceptibility to lower BMD and advanced tooth abrasion, remains not fully understood. Several studies in adult populations have documented associations between systemic bone loss in the development of tooth loss [4, 5, 7, 17, 46]. Resorption of tooth-supporting alveolar bone has been regarded as one of the responsible mechanisms [2, 17, 20]. Nonetheless, available data are inconsistent, and usually based on a self-reported tooth count. Most studies have focused on postmenopausal women, but a few reports have shown lower BMD being associated with the number of missing teeth also in men [12, 47]. Whereas certain studies in edentulous elder population have shown reduced BMD at the spine accompanied by higher BMD at the femoral neck [48], others have reported contrasting findings, i.e., lower selleck screening library femoral rather than spine BMD being associated with tooth loss [19]. These teeth–bones relationships relate usually to older people and prove clinical relevance of dental status in postmenopausal osteoporosis. We extend this observation by demonstrating that the onset of dental disease with precocious rapid enamel abrasion in younger age may also coexist with decreased BMD. The DXA measurement, used in our study, does not allow insight into the structure or quality of bone, so that it is neither able to distinguish between cortical and trabecular bone loss nor between mineral and matrix deterioration.