Abstract
PurposeTo investigate the association between age, physical activity, femoral trochlear cartilage thickness and biomarkers of tissue metabolism in a cross-sectional sample of adult males. This study utilizes several emerging biomarkers that have been associated with early joint degenerative changes; serum COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein), HA (hyaluronan) and lubricin.MethodsEighty-one males (age: mean (range): 43(18–70) years; body mass index: 25.2 (21.0–30.6) kg/m2) volunteered. Resting serum COMP, HA and lubricin concentrations were determined via commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and femoral trochlear cartilage thickness via supra-patellar ultrasound imaging. Physical activity levels were assessed using questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed using correlation and regression analyses.ResultsAge was correlated with lateral trochlear cartilage thickness (r = − 0.372; p < 0.01) and serum COMP (r = 0.342; p < 0.01). 7-day physical activity was correlated with serum COMP (r = 0.357, p < 0.01), and 12-month physical activity with both lateral trochlear cartilage thickness (r = 0.340, p = 0.01) and serum HA (r = 0.296, p < 0.05). Regression analyses revealed that age significantly accounted for the variability in lateral cartilage thickness and serum COMP, following the adjustment for potential cofounders. However, the association between age and lateral trochlear cartilage thickness was not moderated by physical activity levels (all p > 0.05).ConclusionThis study indicates that older age may be associated with thinner lateral trochlear cartilage and higher cartilage turnover. Being physically active may also be positive for lateral trochlear cartilage thickness. However, overall, both age and physical activity level only account for a small amount of the variability in cartilage thickness and serum biomarkers.
Highlights
Understanding how age and physical activity are associated with joint cartilage may be crucial for the development and progression of cartilage atrophy and osteoarthritis (OA)
The aims of this study were to determine whether: (1) age is associated with serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), HA lubricin, and/ or femoral trochlear cartilage thickness in healthy individuals, and (2) physical activity level is associated with serum COMP, HA lubricin, and/or femoral trochlear cartilage thickness in healthy individuals, and/or (3) whether physical activity level moderates the association with age
Initial correlation analyses demonstrated that age correlated with lateral trochlear cartilage thickness (r = − 0.372, p < 0.001) and serum COMP (r = 0.342, p < 0.01)
Summary
Understanding how age and physical activity are associated with joint cartilage may be crucial for the development and progression of cartilage atrophy and osteoarthritis (OA). Regular physical activity has been associated with increased tibial cartilage volume, a reduced number of tibiofemoral cartilage defects (Racunica et al 2007), as well as a reduction in the rate of total volume cartilage loss across the knee joint (Foley et al 2007). Several individual factors, including, age, sex, BMI, muscle strength, previous injury, and joint alignment, may mediate the relationship between physical activity and risk of developing knee OA (Urquhart et al 2008). Physical activity is well documented to help modify and manage several of these independent risk factors of OA (Beckwée et al 2013) and is useful for reducing the symptoms and progression of OA in individuals who have already been diagnosed with the condition (Nelson et al 2014). Whether physical activity can moderate associations between age and cartilage remains unclear
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