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Circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin are higher in old compared with young men and women and positively associated with whole-body bone mineral density in older adults

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Abstract

Summary

Bone mineral density declines with increasing older age. We examined the levels of circulating factors known to regulate bone metabolism in healthy young and older adults. The circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin were positively associated with whole-body bone mineral density (WBMD) in older adults, despite the average WBMD being lower and circulating dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin being higher in old than young.

Introduction

This study aims to investigate the relationship between whole-body bone mineral density (WBMD) and levels of circulating factors with known roles in bone remodelling during ‘healthy’ ageing.

Methods

WBMD and fasting plasma concentrations of dickkopf-1, fibroblast growth factor-23, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, osteopontin and sclerostin were measured in 272 older subjects (69 to 81 years; 52% female) and 171 younger subjects (18–30 years; 53% female).

Results

WBMD was lower in old than young. Circulating osteocalcin was lower in old compared with young, while dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin were higher in old compared with young. These circulating factors were each positively associated with WBMD in the older adults and the relationships remained after adjustment for covariates (r values ranging from 0.174 to 0.254, all p < 0.01). In multivariate regression, the body mass index, circulating sclerostin and whole-body lean mass together accounted for 13.8% of the variation with WBMD in the older adults. In young adults, dickkopf-1 and body mass index together accounted for 7.7% of variation in WBMD.

Conclusion

Circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin are positively associated with WBMD in community-dwelling older adults, despite the average WBMD being lower and circulating dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin being higher in old than young.

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by funding from European Union FP7 (‘MYOAGE’, #223576) and Medical Research Council (MR/K025252/1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, Manchester, M15GD, UK

    J. Coulson, L. Bagley, Y. Barnouin, S. Bradburn, C. Murgatroyd, N. AL-Shanti, D. A. Jones & J. S. McPhee

  2. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Y. Barnouin

  3. Institut de Myologie, GH Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France

    G. Butler-Browne & J.-Y. Hogrel

  4. Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    H. Gapeyeva & M. Pääsuke

  5. School of Physical Activity and Health, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK

    T. Maden-Wilkinson

  6. Department of Human Movement Sciences, MOVE Research Institute, Vrij University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    A. B. Maier

  7. Department of Medicine and Aged Care, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    A. B. Maier

  8. Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    C. Meskers

  9. Graduate Entry Medicine and Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    M. Narici

  10. Unilever Discover, Colworth Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford, UK

    L. Sassano

  11. Gerontology Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    S. Sipilä & L. Stenroth

  12. Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

    L. Stenroth

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  1. J. Coulson
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  2. L. Bagley
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  3. Y. Barnouin
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  4. S. Bradburn
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  7. J.-Y. Hogrel
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  8. T. Maden-Wilkinson
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  9. A. B. Maier
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  18. D. A. Jones
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  19. J. S. McPhee
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Correspondence to J. S. McPhee.

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Coulson, J., Bagley, L., Barnouin, Y. et al. Circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin are higher in old compared with young men and women and positively associated with whole-body bone mineral density in older adults. Osteoporos Int 28, 2683–2689 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-017-4104-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-017-4104-2

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