Subclinical Indication of Linkage Between Markers of Skeletal and Cardiovascular Properties

Abstract

Little is known about early coincidental changes in bone and vascular properties, particularly in the context of skeletal anabolism (puberty) versus relative equilibrium (young adulthood). We aimed to determine if subclinical markers of vascular function were associated with bone mineral content (BMC) and to evaluate the contribution of systemic factors in healthy females ages 14–42 years. Endothelial function was assessed by flow mediated dilatation (FMD), arterial stiffness by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx), blood pressure (BP) by sphygmomanometer, BMC by DXA, and systemic factors by fasting blood draw. General linear models controlled for age, race and height indicated a positive association between systolic BP (SBP) and BMC independent of systemic factors. When stratified by age using 19 years as a cut-point, there was an inverse relationship between AIx75 in adolescents with insulin (P<0.10) or inflammatory markers (P<0.10) in statistical models. Conversely, there was a positive relationship between BMC and both PWV and AIx75 in young adults (P<0.05). The link between bone and the vasculature may be life stage-dependent. In the context of a less dynamic microenvironment in young adult females, metabolic factors appear to moderate less of an effect of hemodynamic properties on the skeleton relative to adolescents.