title: Bone mineral density and atherosclerosis: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, Abdominal Aortic Calcium Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Molecular and cell biology studies have demonstrated an association between bone and arterial wall disease, but the significance of a population-level association is less clear and potentially confounded by inability to account for shared risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test population-level associations between atherosclerosis types and bone integrity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volumetric trabecular lumbar bone mineral density (vBMD), ankle-brachial index (ABI), intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid (CCA-IMT) and internal carotid (ICA-IMT) arteries, and carotid plaque echogenicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random subset of participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) assessed between 2002 and 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  904 post-menopausal female (62.4 years; 62% non-white; 12% ABI <1; 17% CCA-IMT >1mm; 33% ICA-IMT >1mm) and 929 male (61.4 years; 58% non-white; 6% ABI <1; 25% CCA-IMT >1mm; 40% ICA-IMT >1mm) were included. In serial, sex-specific regression models adjusting for age, ethnicity, body mass index, dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, homocysteine, interleukin-6, sex hormones, and renal function, lower vBMD was associated with lower ABI in men (p for trend <0.01) and greater ICA-IMT in men (p for trend <0.02). CCA-IMT was not associated with vBMD in men or women. Carotid plaque echogenicity was independently associated with lower vBMD in both men (trend p=0.01) and women (trend p<0.04). In all models, adjustment did not materially affect results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower vBMD is independently associated with structural and functional measures of atherosclerosis in men and with more advanced and calcified carotid atherosclerotic plaques in both sexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. joseph.a.hyder@gmail.com
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hyder
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barrett-Connor
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Detrano
authors.forename: Nathan D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sirlin
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gapstur
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: J Jeffrey
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Criqui
mesh_terms: D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015519:Bone Density; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium