Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease, which, due to the aging of the world's population, represents an increasing health and socio-economic burden. It is caused by an imbalance between bone resorption and formation, that is clinically characterized as a reduced bone mineral density and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue. Brittle bones lead to fractures and consequently to higher mortality rate and diminished quality of life. Current approaches to diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis overlook a large proportion of patients, who are at greater risk of fractures. Assessment of leukocyte telomere length represents a new potential tool, that could complement existing methods. Telomeres are protective ends of chromosomes, which shorten with every cell division. Therefore, they are considered as a biomarker of aging and are associated with age-related diseases, including osteoporosis. In our research we studied the association of leukocyte telomere length with bone mineral density and quality of trabecular bone of postmenopausal women. With this intention we have first isolated the deoxyribonucleic acid from whole blood and buffy coat, then we measured relative leukocyte telomere length using real-time polymerase chain reaction and at the end we statistically analyzed association of telomere length with bone mineral density and trabecular bone score. Despite the apparent negative trend between telomere length and trabecular bone score and despite positive trend between telomere length and bone mineral density (hip, spine, forearm, 1/3 radius), no statistically significant association could be demonstrated. Although women with osteoporosis showed trend of shorter telomere length, the difference in telomere length compared to control group with or without age and body mass index adjustments remained statistically insignificant. After adjusting for covariants the difference in telomere length between women with degraded bone microarchitecture and healthy subjects remained statistically insignificant. The latter showed trend of shorter telomeres. To conclude, we could not prove association of leukocyte telomere length with bone mineral density and trabecular bone score in studied group of 60 Slovenian postmenopausal women. Our research was the first which examined the association of leukocyte telomere length and trabecular bone score. Large longitudinal studies, in which the association of leukocytes telomere length with osteoporotic fractures would be investigated are warranted to better elucidate the relevance of leukocyte telomere length in bone fragility.
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