Relation of adiponectin, visfatin and bone mineral density in patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Adipose tissue has been suggested to influence bone density and metabolism through the effect of some adipokines. However, whether adiponectin and visfatin may correlate with bone metabolism is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of adiponectin and visfatin with bone density in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). We enroled 72 consecutive patients with MS (25 males, 47 females; mean age 58.14±11 yr) and 40 control subjects. Plasma adiponectin and visfatin levels were measured. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the level of lumbar spine L2-L4 (BMD L2-L4) and femoral neck (BMD-Fn). MS patients had higher plasma visfatin and lower adiponectin levels than controls, (p<0.01 for both). Adiponectin was negatively correlated with BMD-Fn and BMD L2-L4 (r=-0.20, r=-0.24, respectively; p<0.05 for both) whereas plasma visfatin levels were positively correlated to BMD L2-L4 only in men (r=0.44; p<0.05). Our study shows that adiponectin and visfatin are oppositely associated with BMD. Although the mechanisms behind these correlations are unclear, a modulation of bone metabolism by these adipokines can be suggested.