Associations between bone turnover markers and bone mineral density in older adults

Analysis of the association between urinary glyphosate exposure and fatty liver index: a study for US adults

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent condition that often goes unrecognized in the population, and many risk factors for this disease are not well understood. Glyphosate (GLY) is one of the most commonly used herbicides worldwide, and exposure to this chemical in the environment is significant. However, studies exploring the association between GLY exposure and NAFLD remain limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between urinary glyphosate (uGLY) level and fatty liver index (FLI) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which includes uGLY measurements.

METHODS

The log function of uGLY was converted and expressed as Loge(uGLY) with the constant "e" as the base and used for subsequent analysis. The association between Loge(uGLY) (the independent variable) level and FLI (the dependent variable) was assessed by multiple linear regression analysis. Smoothing curve fitting and a generalized additive model were used to assess if there was a nonlinear association between the independent and the dependent variables. A subgroup analysis was used to find susceptible individuals of the association between the independent variable and the dependent variable.

RESULTS

A final total of 2238 participants were included in this study. Participants were categorized into two groups (< -1.011 and ≥ -1.011 ng/ml) based on the median value of Loge(uGLY). A total of 1125 participants had Loge(uGLY) levels ≥ -1.011 ng/ml and higher FLI. The result of multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive association between Loge(uGLY) and FLI (Beta coefficient = 2.16, 95% CI: 0.71, 3.61). Smoothing curve fitting and threshold effect analysis indicated a linear association between Loge(uGLY) and FLI [likelihood ratio(LLR) = 0.364]. Subgroup analyses showed that the positive association between Loge(uGLY) and FLI was more pronounced in participants who were female, aged between 40 and 60 years, had borderline diabetes history, and without hypertension history. In addition, participants of races/ethnicities other than (Mexican American, White and Black) were particularly sensitive to the positive association between Loge(uGLY) and FLI.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive linear association was found between Loge(uGLY) level and FLI. Participants who were female, 40 to 60 years old, and of ethnic backgrounds other than Mexican American, White, and Black, deserve more attention.

The correlation of two bone turnover markers with bone mineral density: a population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Exploring the correlation between bone turnover marks (BTMs) with lumbar BMD in middle-aged populations.

METHODS

The cross-sectional analysis fetched data came from NHANES. The level of serum bone alkaline phosphatase (sBAP) and urinary N-telopeptide (uNTx) were regarded as representative of bone turnover. Lumbar BMD was the outcome of the study. Multivariable linear regression models were utilized to detect the correlation of sBAP and uNTx with Lumbar BMD.

RESULTS

The level of sBAP and uNTx was negatively correlated with lumbar BMD in every multivariable linear regression. For sBAP, this inverse correlation was stable in both men and women (P < 0.01). uNTx indicated a negative association after all relevant covariables were adjusted (P < 0.01). The men group remained the negative correlation in gender subgroup analysis (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that the increased level of sBAP and uNTx associated with lumbar BMD decreased among middle-aged adults. This correlation could prompt researchers to explore further the relationship between bone turnover rate and BMD, which may provide information for the early detection of BMD loss and provide a new strategy for clinical practice.

A Longitudinal Observational Study of Skeletal Development Between Ages 3 Months and 6 Years in Children Fed Human Milk, Milk Formula or Soy Formula

BACKGROUND

Early infant feeding can impact skeletal development. Most children are fed breast milk (BF), dairy based infant formula (MF), or soy based infant formula (SF) during the first year of life. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2010 reports that 12% of U.S. infants consume soy-based infant formula. Despite potential effects of soy-associated isoflavones on skeletal development, studies investigating bone metabolism and structural and functional bone indices in children are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this observational study was to investigate early effects of SF intake on bone metabolism and structure during the first 6 years of life by comparing infants fed BF, MF, or SF.

DESIGN

A total of 433 healthy infants were followed from 3 months to 6 years of age. Children's skeletal development was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, N=433) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT, N=78). Urinary biomarkers of bone metabolism (N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen [NTx] and osteocalcin) were evaluated by immunoassays at 6, 24, 60 and 72 months.

RESULTS

No statistically significant group differences were observed in BMD between children who were BF, MF or SF using DXA or pQCT. At 6 years of age, children who consumed SF in infancy had significantly greater whole- body BMC measured by DXA compared to the MF group. Six-month-old SF boys had significantly greater levels of NTx compared to MF boys, as well as significantly greater osteocalcin levels compared to BF boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data suggest that while SF infants at age 6 months may have some enhanced bone metabolism compared to BF and MF infants, as indicated by the urinary biomarkers, no differences in bone metabolism or BMD were noted between ages 2 and 6 years.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER

NCT00616395; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00616395.

The progress in quantitative evaluation of callus during distraction osteogenesis

The manual monitoring of callus with digital radiography (X-ray) is the primary bone healing evaluation, assessing the number of bridged callus formations. However, this method is subjective and nonquantitative. Recently, several quantitative monitoring methods, which could assess the recovery of the structure and biomechanical properties of the callus at different stages and the process of bone healing, have been extensively investigated. These methods could reflect the bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), stiffness, callus and bone metabolism at the site of bone lengthening. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the latest techniques for evaluating bone healing during distraction osteogenesis (DO): 1) digital radiography; 2) dual-energy X-ray scanning; 3) ultrasound; 4) quantitative computed tomography; 5) biomechanical evaluation; and 6) biochemical markers. This evidence will provide novel and significant information for evaluating bone healing during DO in the future.

Declining serum bone turnover markers are associated with the short-term positive change of lumbar spine bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

While serum bone turnover markers (BTMs) and bone mineral density (BMD) have been confirmed as useable risk assessment tools for postmenopausal osteoporosis, the associations between BTMs and BMD changes are still ambiguous. The aim of this study was to explore the underlying associations between BTMs and BMD changes in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

Between January 2015 and October 2020, 135 postmenopausal women were retrospectively enrolled. They were divided into two groups according to lumbar spine (LS) 1-4 BMD change (1 y T-score minus baseline T-score, Group 1 [n = 36] < 0 and Group 2 [n = 99] ≥ 0). The changes of BTMs (N-terminal middle segment osteocalcin [N-MID], propeptide of type I procollagen [P1NP], and β-C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen [β-CTX]) and their associations with LS 1-4 BMD change were analyzed. The biochemical indices and clinical parameters related with LS 1-4 BMD change were also evaluated.

RESULTS

The 1 year N-MID, P1NP, β-CTX and Phosphorus in Group 2 were lower than those in Group 1 (P < 0.05), their changes within 1 year were significantly negatively correlated with LS 1-4 BMD change (R2 = -0.200, P < 0.001; R2 = -0.230, P < 0.001; R2 = -0.186, P < 0.001; R2 = -0.044, P = 0.015; respectively). Except for the Phosphorus change (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.623), the changes of N-MID, P1NP, and β-CTX and their 1 year levels had similar AUC to diagnose the short-term LS 1-4 BMD change (AUC > 0.7 for all, with the AUC of 1 y P1NP being the largest at 0.803). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the physical activity and drug intervention were the determinant factors for the LS 1-4 BMD change (odds ratio = 6.856, 95% confidence interval: 2.058-22.839, P = 0.002; odds ratio  = 5.114, 95% confidence interval: 1.551-16.864, P = 0.007; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Declining N-MID, P1NP, β-CTX, and Phosphorus are associated with the short-term increase of LS 1-4 BMD within 1 year. Physical activity and drug intervention are factors significantly influencing the change of LS 1-4 BMD in postmenopausal women.