Positive association of fasting plasma glucose with bone mineral density in non-diabetic elderly females

• Published in: Journal of bone and mineral metabolism Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 755 - 762
• Main Authors: Lu, Yi-Hua, Gu, Liang, Jiang, Yun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01-09-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bone density; Bone mass; Bone mineral density; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Fasting; Females; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Original Article; Orthopedics; Osteopenia; Osteoporosis; Physical activity; Spine (lumbar); Descriptive epidemiology; Osteoporosis; Bone mineral density; Fasting plasma glucose
• ISSN: 0914-8779; 1435-5604
• DOI: 10.1007/s00774-022-01341-7

Introduction
Previous studies involving diabetics have shown different associations between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and bone mineral density (BMD). The different effects of FPG on BMD are due to varying effects of antidiabetic drugs, glycemic control and diabetic complications in the diabetic patients. It is necessary to identify the association in subjects without diabetes.
Materials and methods
A total of 2367 females over 65 were included in this cross-sectional study. Subjects were grouped by FPG quartile. BMD and the prevalence of osteoporosis were compared among different FPG quartiles. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the independent contribution of FPG to osteoporosis.
Results
Subjects in lower FPG quartile had lower BMD (
P
 < 0.05). Subjects with osteoporosis had a lower FPG than the subjects of osteopenia, and both were lower than subjects with normal bone mass (
P
 < 0.001 for all). Compared with the lowest FPG quartile, subjects in the 3rd and the 4th quartiles have a lower risk of osteoporosis in the lumbar spine (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.59–0.98; OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.56–0.99, respectively), the total hip (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.56–0.96; OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.53–0.99, respectively), and the femoral neck (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.50–0.97; OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54–0.92, respectively) after adjustment for age, BMI, education, physical activity and menopausal age.
Conclusion
FPG was positively associated with BMD in non-diabetic elderly females. Low FPG may increase the risk of osteoporosis in the non-diabetic elderly females in China.