The relationship of fetuin-A and lactoferrin with bone mass in elderly women

The relationships of fetuin-A and lactoferrin to bone-related phenotypes were investigated in elderly women. Fetuin-A was associated not only with bone mineral density (BMD) but also with bone resorption marker suggesting an influence of fetuin-A on osteoclasts. Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of bone-related phenotypes in elderly women with circulating fetuin-A and lactoferrin. Methods: Eighty-two elderly women were studied. Serum fetuin-A, lactoferrin, C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx), total procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide, and plasma intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) were analyzed. BMD of the lumbar spine at L2-4 and at the femoral neck was measured. Results: Serum fetuin-A was significantly associated with L2-4 BMD (r=0.23, P<0.05). After controlling for age and body weight, the association remained statistically significant. There was a significant association between serum fetuin-A and serum CTx (r=-0.37, P<0.001). The association between fetuin-A and L2-4 BMD no longer existed after controlling for serum CTx. There were positive associations of circulating lactoferrin with plasma PTH (r=0.24, P<0.05) and serum CTx (r=0.26, P<0.05). No association between serum lactoferrin and BMD at the lumbar spine or femoral neck was detected. Conclusions: Circulating fetuin-A is related to bone mass and bone resorption markers in elderly women. Lactoferrin, in contrast, is associated only with bone resorption markers.