Published in:
01-07-2011 | Original Article
The relationship of fetuin-A and lactoferrin with bone mass in elderly women
Published in: Osteoporosis International | Issue 7/2011
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Summary
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.
Introduction
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.