Relation between homocysteine and biochemical bone turnover markers and bone mineral density in peri- and post-menopausal women.
BACKGROUND
Recently, increased plasma homocysteine (Hcy) has been suggested as an independent risk factor for osteoporotic fractures. Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that Hcy adversely affects bone metabolism. This study aimed to analyze the relation between Hcy and biochemical markers of bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD).


METHODS
We investigated 143 peri- and post-menopausal women [median age (25th-75th percentile), 67 (57-75) years]. All subjects underwent a detailed medical examination, measurement of bone mineral density at lumbar spine (BMD-LS) and total hip (BMD-HIP), and fasting venous blood and urine sampling. Osteocalcin (OC), serum calcium (Ca), urinary desoxypyridinoline cross-links (DPD), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and soluble receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (sRANKL) were studied.


RESULTS
According to BMD subjects were classified as normal (n=24), osteopenic (n=51) or osteoporotic (n=68). Median Hcy did not differ between normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic subjects (p=0.647). Partial correlation analysis, controlling for the major confounders, age, creatinine, menopause and previous fractures, revealed significant correlations between Hcy and DPD (r=0.193, p=0.022), as well as between Hcy and Ca (r=0.170, p=0.045). After adjustment for the same confounders, subsequent regression analysis confirmed significant associations of Hcy with DPD and Ca. No significant relations could be observed between Hcy and BMD-LS, BMD-HIP, OC, OPG or sRANKL.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate weak, but significant, relations between Hcy and markers of organic and inorganic bone resorption, suggesting a mechanistic role of Hcy in bone metabolism. The relation between Hcy and bone resorption was not dependent on OPG or sRANKL.
Herrmann
Markus
M
Abteilung für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin/Zentrallabor, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany. markusherr@aol.com
Kraenzlin
Marius
M
Pape
Gerhard
G
Sand-Hill
Marga
M
Herrmann
Wolfgang
W
D000368:Aged; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006711:Homocystine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D006711:Homocystine; C036020:deoxypyridinoline; D002118:Calcium