Summary
We examined the associations of metabolic syndrome (MS) with BMD, osteoporosis, and osteoporotic fractures in 417 men and
671 women from the Rancho Bernardo Study. After adjusting for BMI, MS was associated with lower, not higher BMD. Incidence
of osteoporotic non-vertebral fractures was higher in participants with MS. MS may be another risk factor for osteoporotic
fractures.
Introduction
The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of risk factors, including abdominal obesity, high glucose, triglycerides, hypertension
and low HDL levels, associated with cardiovascular disease morbidity. The association between components of the MS and bone
mineral density (BMD) has been researched, but results are contradictory.
Methods
We used multivariate regression models to examine the cross-sectional associations of MS defined by NCEP-ATP III criteria
with BMD and osteoporosis, and the longitudinal association of MS with fractures in 420 men and 676 women from the Rancho
Bernardo Study.
Results
Prevalence of MS at baseline was 23.5% in men and 18.2% in women. In age-adjusted analyses, men and women with MS had higher
BMD at total hip when compared to those without MS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively). Men but not women with MS also
had higher BMD at femoral neck (p = 0.05). After adjusting for BMI, these associations were reversed, such that MS was associated
with lower and not higher BMD.
Conclusion
Incidence of osteoporotic non-vertebral fractures was higher in participants with MS. MS may be another risk factor for osteoporotic
fractures. The association of MS with higher BMD was explained by the higher BMI in those with MS.
Keywords BMI - Fractures - Men - Metabolic syndrome - Osteoporosis - Women