BACKGROUND: TGF-β1 regulates bone metabolism and mediates bone turnover during 
postmenopause. Sclerostin negatively regulates Wnt signaling pathway and also 
has an important role in postmenopausal bone loss. Little is known about the 
relationship between serum TGF-β1 and sclerostin during menopause.
METHODS: We compared serum levels of TGF-β1 and sclerostin in pre- and 
postmenopausal women and assessed the potential correlations of these levels 
with each other and with serum levels of bone turnover markers and bone mineral 
density.
RESULTS: A total of 176 women (58 premenopausal, 62 early postmenopausal, and 56 
late postmenopausal) were included in this study. Serum TGF-β1 level was 
significantly higher in early postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal 
(32.0±7.19 vs. 26.55±6.67 ng/ml, p=0.01) and late postmenopausal (32.0±7.19 vs. 
28.65±7.70 pg/ml, p=0.031) women, and no significant differences in serum 
sclerostin levels were observed among the 3 groups. There was a significant 
negative correlation between TGF-β1 and sclerostin in early postmenopausal 
women, but not in other groups of women. Based on multiple regression analysis, 
only TGF-β1 (β=-0.362; p=0.007) was an independent predictor of sclerostin 
during early postmenopause.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that serum TGF-β1 level increases during 
postmenopause and declines in old age. Sclerostin production is inhibited by 
TGF-β1 during early postmenopause.