title: Association between leukocyte telomere length and bone mineral density in women 25-93 years of age.
abstract: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and bone mineral density (BMD) are associated with health and mortality. Because osteoporosis is an age-related condition and LTL is considered to be a biomarker of aging, we hypothesized that shorter LTL could predict lower BMD. The aim of our study was to assess whether there is an association of LTL with BMD and to determine whether this possible association is independent of age. The BMDs of the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN) and total hip (TH) were evaluated in 460 women using DXA. LTL was analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The women completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire. The associations were estimated by regression models that considered age, body mass index (BMI), menopause, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking habits. We found a statistically significant unadjusted association between LTL and age (estimate and 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.003 (-0.005; -0.002)); and between BMI adjusted age and logarithmic transformed BMD. Estimates and 95% CI were as follows: LS: -0.13 (-0.26; -0.01); right TH: -0.44 (-0.53; -0.34); left TH: -0.38 (-0.48; -0.28); right FN: -0.57 (-0.67; -0.46) and left FN: -0.51 (-0.62; -0.40). There were no statistically significant associations between BMD and LTL (both logarithmically transformed) with or without age adjustments. The age-adjusted estimates and CI were as follows: LS: -0.10 (-0.71; 0.52); right TH: -0.13 (-0.66; 0.41); left TH: -0.13 (-0.67; 0.42); right FN: -0.03 (-0.58; 0.52) and left FN: 0.09 (-0.47; 0.66). In conclusion, we found no statistically significant associations between BMD and LTL, although the estimates of the crude associations were all positive, indicating hypothesis consistency; that shorter LTL predict lower BMD values. This positive association was no longer apparent after adjusting for age. As expected, age was statistically significantly associated with both telomere length and BMI adjusted BMD.
authors: Research Centre of Ageing and Osteoporosis, Departments of Medicine and Diagnostics, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark. Electronic address: Barbara.rubek.nielsen@regionh.dk.
authors: Barbara Rubek
authors: BR
authors: Nielsen
authors: Research Centre for Prevention and Health, the Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Experimental Research, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: Allan.linneberg@regionh.dk.
authors: Allan
authors: A
authors: Linneberg
authors: Pain Center South, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Danish Research Centre of Ageing, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: Laila.bendix@dadlnet.dk.
authors: Laila
authors: L
authors: Bendix
authors: Department of Clinical Genetics, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark. Electronic address: Maria.harbo@slb.regionsyddanmark.dk.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Harboe
authors: Danish Research Centre of Ageing, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: Kchristensen@health.sdu.dk.
authors: Kaare
authors: K
authors: Christensen
authors: Research Centre of Ageing and Osteoporosis, Departments of Medicine and Diagnostics, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Endocrinology PE, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: Peter.schwarz@regionh.dk.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck; D006615:Hip; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: Aging; DXA; General population studies; Leukocyte telomere length