Circulating insulin levels are related to bone density in normal postmenopausal women

Abstract

We recently established that the dependence of bone mineral density (BMD) on body weight in women is mainly attributable to a close relationship between total body fat mass and BMD. The present study assesses whether this latter relationship might be contributed to by the hormones insulin or amylin, both of which may influence fat mass and calcium metabolism. Fifty-three normal postmenopausal women underwent a 75-g glucose tolerance test with measurement of plasma insulin and amylin concentrations every 30 min for 2 h. Body composition and BMD/height (to provide a quantity with the dimensions of volumetric density that is independent of body size) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and volumetric density of the third lumbar vertebral body was calculated. Circulating insulin concentrations correlated with BMD/height and volumetric density of the third lumbar vertebral body (r = 0.28-0.52). They also were related to body weight (r = 0.34-0.56) and fat mass (r = 0.38-0.56) but were not independently related to lean mass on multiple regression. There were no consistent relationships between amylin levels and these variables. Multiple-regression analyses with fat mass and insulin levels as independent variables indicated that BMD/height of total body and femoral trochanter were primarily related to fat mass, whereas, in femoral neck, the significant relationship was with insulin. Volumetric density of the third lumbar vertebral body was related to insulin levels alone on this analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adiponectin and its association with bone mass accrual in childhood

“…(2) Although increased weight is expected to mia, which might contribute to the associated increase in bone mass. (3) Both insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) exert trophic effects on bone in laboratory studies, (4,5) and in clinical studies, insulin resistance is associated with both increased bone density (6)(7)(8)(9) and reduced fracture risk (10) independent of body mass index (BMI). Leptin and adiponectin, two adipocyte-derived hormones, also could influence skeletal metabolism directly.…”

Association of larger holes in the trabecular bone at the distal radius in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to controls

“…Potential factors contributing to elevated aBMD in adults with type 2 DM include greater body mass index (BMI), hyperinsulinemia, higher fat mass leading to higher estrogen levels, and the presence of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (3)(4)(5)(6). Higher than normal aBMD in the presence of elevated fracture risk may limit fracture risk stratification based on aBMD.…”

Leptin is Negatively Associated with Femoral Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…The previous studies have shown that increased aromatization of androgen to estrogen 2) , decreased sex-hormone binding globulin 3) , augmentation of bone formation by high circulating levels of insulin 4) , mechanical effects of increased weight bearing 5) , and leptin 6) could affect BMD in obese patients.…”