The relationship of fetuin-A and lactoferrin with bone mass in elderly women.
CONCLUSIONS
The relationships of fetuin-A and lactoferrin to bone-related phenotypes were investigated in elderly women. Fetuin-A was associated not only with bone mineral density (BMD) but also with bone resorption marker suggesting an influence of fetuin-A on osteoclasts.


BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of bone-related phenotypes in elderly women with circulating fetuin-A and lactoferrin.


METHODS
Eighty-two elderly women were studied. Serum fetuin-A, lactoferrin, C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx), total procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide, and plasma intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) were analyzed. BMD of the lumbar spine at L2-4 and at the femoral neck was measured.


RESULTS
Serum fetuin-A was significantly associated with L2-4 BMD (r = 0.23, P < 0.05). After controlling for age and body weight, the association remained statistically significant. There was a significant association between serum fetuin-A and serum CTx (r = -0.37, P < 0.001). The association between fetuin-A and L2-4 BMD no longer existed after controlling for serum CTx. There were positive associations of circulating lactoferrin with plasma PTH (r = 0.24, P < 0.05) and serum CTx (r = 0.26, P < 0.05). No association between serum lactoferrin and BMD at the lumbar spine or femoral neck was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Circulating fetuin-A is related to bone mass and bone resorption markers in elderly women. Lactoferrin, in contrast, is associated only with bone resorption markers.
Chailurkit
L
L
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Rd., Rajthevi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. ralcl@mahidol.ac.th
Kruavit
A
A
Rajatanavin
R
R
Ongphiphadhanakul
B
B
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000097:blood*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000097:blood*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism*
C556354:AHSG protein, human; D024042:Collagen Type I; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011347:Procollagen; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; C047202:procollagen Type I N-terminal peptide; D007781:Lactoferrin