Serum osteoprotegerin levels are related to height loss: The Tromsø Study

• Published in: European Journal of Epidemiology
• Main Authors: Jørgensen, Lone, Hansen, John-Bjarne, Brox, Jan, Mathiesen, Ellisiv, Vik, Anders, Jacobsen, Bjarne K.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Netherlands 2011
• Subjects: Loco-Motor Diseases; Norway; Tromsø
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088831; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21331661; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-011-9555-8

Severe loss of body height is often a consequence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) are cytokines essential for the regulation of bone resorption. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the OPG/RANKL system and height loss. A total of 4,435 inhabitants from the municipality of Tromsø, Norway (2,169 men and 2,266 women) were followed for 6 years. Baseline measurements included height, weight, bone mineral density, OPG, RANKL, serum parathyroid hormone and information about lifestyle, prevalent diseases and use of medication. Height was measured again at follow-up, and the loss of height was categorized into 4 groups: ≤1, 1.1–2, 2.1–3, >3 cm. We found increasing height loss with increasing baseline OPG levels in both men and women (P trend = 0.02 and 0.001, respectively), after adjustments for age and other confounders. However, when the women were stratified according to menopausal status and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a significant relationship was present only among postmenopausal women not using HRT (P trend = 0.02). No relations between OPG and height loss were found in post-menopausal HRT-users and premenopausal women (P trend ≥0.39). We conclude that height loss is positively associated with OPG in men and in postmenopausal women not using HRT. No relationship was found between RANKL and height loss.