<b>Serum IL-6 levels increase in association with bone turnover markers,</b><b> </b><b>bone</b><b> </b><b>mineral density and increased risk of hip fractures in postmenopausal women</b><b> </b><b>骨</b><b> </b><b>mineral density and increased risk of hip fractures in postmenopausal women</b>

IL-6 and bone turnover markers concentrationsWe need to collect information including age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), smoking history and history of drinking. To minimize the effect of trauma or fracture healing on the bone metabolism, fasting blood samples of the participants were collected between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. in sitting position. The blood samples were centrifuged and processed within 2 h after phlebotomy and stored at -80 °C. Detected biomarkers include β-CTX, P1NP, BGP, IL-6, interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 17 (IL-17), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).Bone mineral densityThe areal BMD (g/cm2) of the lumbar spine (L1–4), femoral neck and total hip were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry with Lunar DPX (GE) in the array (fan beam) mode. The diagnosis of osteoporosis was based on the criteria established by the WHO. A T-score of &lt; −2.5 was defined as osteoporosis, a T-score between −1.5 and −2.5 as osteopenia, and a T-score &gt; −1.5 as normal bone mass. All participants were tested by the same operator to eliminate operator differences. BMI was calculated by dividing weight (kg) by the square of height (m2).