Evaluation of Lipids and Lipoproteins in Relation with Bone Mineral Density in Patients at Risk of Bone Fractures

• M.O Ebesunun

Osteoporosis, which contributes to morbidity and mortality, often coexists with cardiovascular disease, especially atherosclerosis. Changes in low-density lipoprotein choesterol (LDLC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) most relevant to cardiovascular disease (CVD), have been associated with reduced bone quality and increased fracture risk. HDLC, long understood as protective in CVD has recently been identified as a possible regulator of osteoblast cell differentiation. Lipid and lipoprotein oxidation products from a high fat diet have also been linked to loss of bone density in mice. Study on bone mineral density(BMD) in relationship with changes in plasma lipids in Nigerians at risk of bone fracture is scarce. This study was designed to evaluate BMD using the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) as well as lipids and lipoproteins in osteoporotic parients. One hundred subjects consisting of fifty osteoporotic patients aged 57±1.93 years with T-score below -2.5 (-2.5 to -7.5) and fifty controls aged 42.82±1.53 years with T- score of -0.6±0.4 were selected for this study. All biochemical and biophysical parameters were determined using standard procedures. Results showed significant increases in plasma total cholesterol(TC), LDLC (p<0.001) as well as TC/HDLC and LDLC/HDLC (p<0.05). There were remarkable significant decreases in plasma HDLC, BMI and BMD (p<0.001) respectively. There are compelling evidence from the results of this study that decreased BMD and increased plasma TC and LDLC as well as reduced HDLC are features of osteoporotic patients in Nigeria and this could lead to risks in bone fracture.

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