Association between circulating CD34-positive cell count and height loss among older men

Abstract

Height loss starting in middle age is reportedly significantly associated with death due to cardiovascular disease. Impaired blood flow is the main pathology in cardiovascular disease. Hematopoietic stem cells such as CD34-positive cells play an important role in maintaining the microcirculation and preventing impaired blood flow by activating endothelial repair and angiogenesis. Therefore, circulating CD34-positive cell count could be associated with height loss. To clarify the association between circulating CD34-positive cell count and height loss, we conducted a follow-up study of 363 Japanese men aged 60–69 years over 2 years. Height loss was defined as being in the highest quartile of height decrease per year. Independent of known cardiovascular risk factors, circulating CD34-positive cell count was significantly inversely associated with height loss. The fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of height loss for circulating CD34-positive cell count (logarithmic values) was 0.49 (0.32, 0.74). This study suggests that a lower capacity to maintain the microcirculation due to a fewer CD34-positive cells might affect height loss.

Eating speed and height loss in relation to overweight: A retrospective study

“…Furthermore, a previous study with healthy individuals free from diabetes reported a significant positive association between post-challenge hyperglycemic spikes and functional arterial stiffness evaluated with the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) [ 23 ]. Since insufficient endothelial repair due to a shortage of hematopoietic stem cells known as CD34-positive cells accelerates functional atherosclerosis as evaluated by CAVI [ 7 ] and a shortage of CD34-positive cells is an independent risk for height loss among men aged 60 to 69 years [ 6 ], increased functional arterial stiffness due to post-prandial hyperglycemic spikes might explain the association between eating speed and height loss among non-overweight individuals. Since hypoxia accelerates intervertebral disc degeneration [ 24 , 25 ], inadequate endothelial repair related to lower adaptability to hypoxia might play an important role in the development of intervertebral disc degeneration.…”

“…Since height loss starting in middle age is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases [ 3 ], the present findings could help clarify some of the mechanisms underlying the association between height loss and cardiovascular disease. Insufficient endothelial repair [ 7 , 8 ], which is related to a shortage of circulating CD34-positive cells, is associated with height loss [ 6 ]. Circulating CD34-positive cell count is inversely associated with cardiovascular mortality [ 9 ].…”

“…Previously, circulating CD34-positive cell count was revealed to be inversely associated with height loss [ 6 ]. Circulating CD34-positive cells play a major role in endothelial repair [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…The development of structural atherosclerosis requires circulating CD34-positive cells [ 11 ]. Since a shortage of circulating CD34-positive cells is a significant risk factor for height loss [ 6 ], overweight could act as a strong confounder on the association between eating speed and height loss. Being overweight might stimulate the production of CD34-positive cells.…”

Height and Active Arterial Wall Thickening in Relation to Thyroid Cysts Status among Elderly Japanese: A Prospective Study

“…Height is known to be strongly inversely associated with age because aging is a process that decreases height [ 2 , 25 , 26 ]. Aging could influence the risk of endothelial dysfunction [ 27 ].…”