Vitamin D Deficiency/Insufficiency Is Associated with Risk of Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Junction Vertebral Fractures

Different types of hip fragility fractures have different values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is related to fragility fracture. In most previous studies, there was no assessment of vitamin D deficiency status separately for hip fracture types. The first aim is to evaluate vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) status in patients with hip fracture. The second objective is to determine whether there are differences in vitamin D and PTH between the femoral neck fracture and the femoral metaphyseal fracture group.

METHODS

62 men and 248 women with fragility hip fractures were enrolled. 25-hydroxyviamin D [25(OH)D] and intact PTH (iPTH) values were evaluated, and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) was measured on the uninjured side. Vertebral fractures (VFs) were assessed using radiographs of the thoracic and lumbar spine. We examined the relationships of 25(OH)D value with the number of prevalent VFs, T-score of femoral neck, and iPTH level. These analyses were also performed, neck fracture and trochanteric fracture separately.

RESULTS

Mean age was 85 years. The mean 25(OH)D was 11.2 (range, 4.0-26.1) ng/ml, whereas the mean iPTH value was 48.9 pg/ml (range, 9-429 pg/ml). The mean number of VFs was 1.5 (range, 0-11), and the mean T-score was -3.3 (range, -5.2 to -0.5). There was a weak correlation between the 25(OH)D value and the number of VFs. There was a weak but significant correlation between 25(OH)D and iPTH values. In the patients with trochanteric fractures, 25(OH)D value was significantly lower and iPTH value was significantly higher than those with neck fractures. There was a significant correlation between the 25(OH)D value and number of the VFs, 25(OH)D, and iPTH values only in trochanteric fractures.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D deficiency was severe and PTH levels were higher in the trochanteric fractures. Both vitamin D deficiency and high PTH levels were suggested to have association with bone fragility.

Vitamin D Supplementation and Its Impact on Different Types of Bone Fractures

Vitamin D helps to balance the levels of calcium and phosphorus to maintain proper bone structure. It is also involved in essential biological roles and displays a wide spectrum of potential benefits in the human body. Since there are many types of fractures that occur at specific ages and due to different circumstances, the influence of vitamin D on the frequency of a particular fracture may differ. Thus, the authors investigated the possible preventive effect of vitamin D on the risks of vertebral fractures, hip fractures, stress fractures and pediatric fractures. Additional aspects of vitamin D, especially on recuperation after injures and its impact on the severity of particular fractures, were also discussed. It was suggested that vitamin D supplementation may contribute to a reduction in hip fracture risk due to reduced bone turnover, decreased frequency of falls and improved muscle function. Furthermore, vitamin D appears to lower the risk of stress fractures in athletes and military recruits. Due to a nonunified protocol design, presented investigations show inconsistencies between vitamin D supplementation and a decreased risk of vertebral fractures. However, a vitamin D preventive effect on pediatric fractures seems to be implausible.

Risk factors affecting vertebral collapse and kyphotic progression in postmenopausal osteoporotic vertebral fractures

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate the risk factors that affect vertebral deformity 6 months after osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) at the time of injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From May 2017 to May 2020, 70 postmenopausal women with OVFs were evaluated for age; body mass index; number of previous OVFs; total 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels; posterior wall injury on computed tomography; cross-sectional area (CSA) of the psoas major, erector spinae, and multifidus; fat infiltration; vertebral instability (VI) upon admission; collapse rate (CR); and kyphotic angle (KA) at 6 months after injury. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors for the CR and KA.

RESULTS

The CR was correlated with posterior wall injury (r = 0.295, p = 0.022), 25(OH)D levels (r =  - 0.367, p = 0.002), and VI (r = 0.307, p = 0.010). In the multiple regression analysis, the 25(OH)D levels (p = 0.032) and VI (p = 0.035) were significant risk factors for the CR at the 6-month follow-up. The KA was correlated with the 25(OH)D levels (r =  - 0.262, p = 0.031) and VI (r = 0.298, p = 0.012). In the multiple regression analysis, the CSA of the psoas major (p = 0.011) and VI (p < 0.001) were significant risk factors for the KA at the 6-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

In cases with large VI at the time of injury, the CR and KA were significantly higher at 6 months after injury. Moreover, the CR was affected by the 25(OH)D level, while the KA was affected by the CSA of the psoas major upon admission.

Association of High Serum Chemerin with Bone Mineral Density Loss and Osteoporotic Fracture in Elderly Chinese Women

Background

Chemerin has been suggested to be a risk factor for osteoporosis; however, its relationship with osteoporotic fracture is poorly understood. Herein, we intend to explore the association between serum chemerin and osteoporotic fracture.

Methods

A total of 111 elderly women patients diagnosed with osteoporotic fracture were selected as the observation group, and 40 healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, and biochemical analysis were separately performed to determine body bone mineral density (BMD), chemerin levels, bone turnover markers, and other parameters. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to examine a relationship between chemerin and laboratory parameters. Moreover, the levels of chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR), C-C motif chemokine receptor-like 2 (CCRL2), collagen type I alpha (COLA1), and runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2) were confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the effect of chemerin on osteogenic differentiation of hFOB1.19 cells was indicated by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase double staining.

Results

A higher level of chemerin was generally detected in patients with osteoporotic fracture compared with those without (P<0.05). Compared with controls, lower BMD levels and higher β-CTx and P1NP levels were detected in patients with osteoporotic fracture (all P<0.05). Interestingly, chemerin level was negatively correlated to BMD, but positively related to P1NP and β-CTx. Risk of osteoporotic fracture was 2.75-fold higher in subjects with each standard deviation increment of chemerin. Compared with controls, there were no significant differences in CMKLR1 and CCRL2 mRNA after incubation with osteogenic differentiation medium (all P>0.05), whereas there was a remarkable decrease of COLA1 and RUNX2 after incubation with chemerin for nine days (all P<0.05). Furthermore, prolonged incubation with chemerin enhanced osteoclast differentiation and maturation, consequently contributing to an increased risk of fracture.

Conclusion

Chemerin is a strong and independent risk factor for osteoporosis-related fracture among elderly Chinese women.

Pharmacologic Interventions for Fracture Risk Reduction in the Oldest Old: What Is the Evidence?

With an increasingly older population, the proportion of patients 85 years or older seeking interventions to protect their musculoskeletal health is growing. Osteoporosis in the geriatric population presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Multimorbidity, frailty, falls, polypharmacy, and other neurobehavioral factors influence our approach to fracture prevention in this population. The vast majority of the evidence from clinical trials establish pharmacologic fracture efficacy in postmenopausal women. The evidence is scarce for the oldest old men and women, a population also at risk for adverse events and mortality. Most studies show continued efficacy of pharmacologic interventions in this age group, although they are largely limited by small sample sizes. We herein review the available evidence of pharmacologic interventions for fracture risk reduction in this population and explore the emerging senotherapeutic interventions in the pipeline. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Asymptomatic morphometric vertebral fractures and its associated factors: A cross-sectional study among adults in a selected urban area in Selangor, Malaysia

Objective

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vertebral fractures (VF) in a selected urban population in Malaysia and to explore possible variables associated with VF in the study population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study involving community-living, healthy subjects aged between 45–90 years from the state of Selangor, Malaysia, were invited to attend a bone health check-up. Subjects with diseases known to affect bone metabolism or were on treatment for osteoporosis (OP) were excluded. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Lateral and antero-posterior view lumbar spine x-rays were performed and VF was determined by the semi-quantitative Genant method.

Results

A total of 386 subjects were studied. Asymptomatic morphometric VF were found in 44 (11.4%) subjects. T12 was the most common vertebrae to be fractured. The prevalence of VF was significantly higher in menopausal women (12.4%) compared to non-menopausal women, in those above the age of 60 (18.5%), in those of Chinese ethnicity (16.5%), in those with a low body fat percentage (17.1%) and among those with OP (27.0%). The mean (standard deviation) 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were significantly higher in those with VF compared to those without VF, 67.64 (23.50) and 57.47 (21.71) nmol/L, respectively. However, after multiple regression analysis, age over 60 years and OP on DXA BMD measurement were the only significant associated factors for VF.

Conclusion

Overall, 11.4% of a selected Malaysian urban population had asymptomatic morphometric VF. Age over 60 years and OP on DXA BMD measurement, but not 25(OH)D levels, were associated with VF.

Diabetes and Bone Fragility

Diabetes is a highly prevalent disease with complications that impact most bodily systems. However, the impact of diabetes on bone health is frequently ignored or underestimated. Both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are associated with a higher risk of fractures, albeit through different mechanisms. T1D is characterized by near total insulinopenia, which affects the anabolic tone of bone and results in reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Meanwhile, patients with T2D have normal or high BMD, but carry an increased risk of fractures due to alterations of bone microarchitecture and a local humoral environment that stimulates osteoclast activity. Chronic hyperglycemia induces non-enzymatic glycation of collagen in both types of diabetes. Epidemiological evidence confirms a largely increased fracture risk in T1D and T2D, but also that it can be substantially reduced by opportune monitoring of fracture risk and appropriate treatment of both diabetes itself and osteopenia or osteoporosis if they are present. In this review, we summarize the mechanistic, epidemiological, and clinical evidence that links diabetes and bone fragility, and describe the impact of available diabetes treatments on bone health.

The influence of omega-3 supplementation on vitamin D levels in humans: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Inconsistencies exist with regard to the influence of omega-3 supplementation on 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, which could be attributed to many factors, such as the duration and dose of omega-3 supplementation, and individuals' baseline 25(OH)D levels. Therefore, to address the inconsistencies, we conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis to accurately determine the effect of omega-3 supplementation on 25(OH)D levels in humans.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive literature search in Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Embase databases from inception up to January 2020. We included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We used weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) to assess the influence of omega-3 supplementation on serum 25(OH)D levels using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

Our pooled results of 10 RCTs demonstrated an overall significant increase in 25(OH)D levels following omega-3 intake (WMD = 3.77 ng/ml, 95% CI: 1.29, 6.25). In addition, 25(OH)D levels were significantly increased when the intervention duration lasted >8 weeks and when the baseline serum 25(OH)D level was ˂20 ng/ml. Moreover, omega-3 intake ≤1000 mg/day resulted in higher 25(OH)D levels compared to omega-3 intake >1000 mg/day.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, omega-3 supplementation increased 25(OH)D concentrations, particularly with dosages ≤1000 mg/day and intervention durations >8 weeks.

The relationship between serum vitamin D and fracture risk in the elderly: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The incidence of osteoporotic fractures has increased rapidly, and because of the poor prognosis and high mortality associated with osteoporotic fractures, they remain a prospective research area globally. One way to reduce their incidence is to investigate their intervention risk factors in the elderly. Hence, this study explores the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and osteoporotic fractures in elderly patients through a meta-analysis.

METHODS

We conducted our literature search mainly in PubMed and Embase for identifying studies that investigated the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and the risk for osteoporotic fractures. We performed categorical analysis, heterogeneity checks, publication bias analysis, and subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 20 studies were included, of which 4 were case-cohort studies and 16 were cohort studies. A total of 41,738 patients from 20 studies were included in the meta-analysis, of which 5916 had fractures, including 3237 hip fractures. By combining the lowest and highest categories of relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), it was suggested that lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels may be a risk factor for fractures. RR (95% CI) for total and hip fractures were 1.11 (0.99, 1.24) and 0.89 (0.80, 0.98) after adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that compared to low serum 25(OH)D levels, high serum 25(OH)D levels reduce the risk of hip fractures in the patients aged 60 years or older. In contrast, serum 25(OH)D has no significant relationship with total fracture risk.