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Osteoporosis International
Published in: Osteoporosis International 4/2007

Open Access 01-04-2007 | Original Article

Links between cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: serum lipids or atherosclerosis per se?

Authors: Y. Z. Bagger, H. B. Rasmussen, P. Alexandersen, T. Werge, C. Christiansen, L. B. Tankó, PERF study group

Published in: Osteoporosis International | Issue 4/2007

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Epidemiological observations suggest links between osteoporosis and risk of acute cardiovascular events and vice versa. Whether the two clinical conditions are linked by common pathogenic factors or atherosclerosis per se remains incompletely understood. We investigated whether serum lipids and polymorphism in the ApoE gene modifying serum lipids could be a biological linkage.

Methods

This was an observational study including 1176 elderly women 60–85 years old. Women were genotyped for epsilon (ɛ) allelic variants of the ApoE gene, and data concerning serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, apoA1, ApoB, Lp(a)), hip and spine BMD, aorta calcification (AC), radiographic vertebral fracture and self-reported wrist and hip fractures, cardiovascular events together with a wide array of demographic and lifestyle characteristics were collected.

Results

Presence of the ApoE ɛ4 allele had a significant impact on serum lipid profile, yet no association with spine/hip BMD or AC could be established. In multiple regression models, apoA1 was a significant independent contributor to the variation in AC. However, none of the lipid components were independent contributors to the variation in spine or hip BMD. When comparing the women with or without vertebral fractures, serum triglycerides showed significant differences. This finding was however not applicable to hip or wrist fractures. After adjustment for age, severe AC score (≥6) and/or manifest cardiovascular disease increased the risk of hip but not vertebral or wrist fractures.

Conclusion

The contribution of serum lipids to the modulators of BMD does not seem to be direct but rather indirect via promotion of atherosclerosis, which in turn can affect bone metabolism locally, especially when skeletal sites supplied by end-arteries are concerned. Further studies are needed to explore the genetic or environmental risk factors underlying the association of low triglyceride levels to vertebral fractures.
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Metadata
Title
Links between cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: serum lipids or atherosclerosis per se?
Authors
Y. Z. Bagger
H. B. Rasmussen
P. Alexandersen
T. Werge
C. Christiansen
L. B. Tankó
PERF study group
Publication date
01-04-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Osteoporosis International / Issue 4/2007
Print ISSN: 0937-941X
Electronic ISSN: 1433-2965
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-006-0255-2

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