Abstract
Previously, we reported that height is an indicator of the capacity of vascular repair in elderly men, especially hypertensive men. On the other hand, hemoglobin could act as a possible biochemical index of hypertension-induced vascular damage. However, no studies have clarified the correlation between height and hematopoietic activity. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 249 men aged 65-69 undergoing a general health check-up. Reticulocyte was used to evaluate hematopoietic activity. Because hemoglobin concentration should influence hematopoietic activity, analyses stratified by hemoglobin level were performed. Independent of known cardiovascular risk factors and other hematological parameters (white blood cell count), a significant positive correlation was seen between height and reticulocytes for total subjects and subjects with a high hemoglobin concentration (≥14.5 g/dL), but not in subjects with a low hemoglobin concentration (<14.5 g/dL). The standardized parameter estimates (β) were β=0.18, p=0.003 for total subjects, β=0.28, p=0.001 for subjects with a high hemoglobin concentration, and β=0.03, p=0.717 for subjects with low hemoglobin. Independently, height is significantly positively correlated with reticulocyte in elderly Japanese men, particularly in men with a high hemoglobin concentration. These results indicate that subjects with a short stature might have lower hematopoietic capacity than those with a high stature.
Highlights
These studies indicate that hemoglobin level should act as an evaluator of the correlation between height and hematopoietic capacity, since hemoglobin level is an indicator of the necessity of vascular maintenance and hematopoietic activity
Since normocytic normochromic anemia might be caused by reduced productivity of hemoglobin in the bone marrow, we surmised that height might indicate hematopoiesis
The mechanisms underlying the positive correlation between reticulocyte and height among elderly men are not yet clear
Summary
Active hematopoietic (red) bone marrow, which plays an important role in hematopoiesis, declines with age and is transformed into fatty (yellow) marrow from the periphery towards the axial skeleton [13]. We reported a significant positive association between hemoglobin and hypertension [15], hypertension-induced vascular damage [16], and atherosclerosis [17]. These studies indicate that hemoglobin level should act as an evaluator of the correlation between height and hematopoietic capacity, since hemoglobin level is an indicator of the necessity of vascular maintenance and hematopoietic activity
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