Sclerostin Levels in Relation to Age, Gender, and Bone Mass
Author Information
Author(s): Mödder Ulrike I, Hoey Kelley A, Amin Shreyasee, McCready Louise K, Achenbach Sara J, Riggs B Lawrence, Melton L Joseph, Khosla Sundeep
Primary Institution: Endocrine Research Unit, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between circulating sclerostin levels and age, gender, or bone mass in humans?
Conclusion
Men have higher serum sclerostin levels than women, and sclerostin levels increase significantly with age.
Supporting Evidence
- Sclerostin levels were significantly higher in men than women (33.3 pmol/L vs 23.7 pmol/L).
- Sclerostin levels increased by 2.4-fold in women and 4.6-fold in men with age.
- Elderly subjects had higher sclerostin levels than younger subjects for the same amount of bone mass.
Takeaway
As people get older, their bodies produce more sclerostin, a protein that can slow down bone growth, and men generally have more of it than women.
Methodology
Serum sclerostin levels were measured in a population-based sample using a validated immunoassay, with subjects evaluated for age, gender, and bone mass.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the underrepresentation of non-white populations in the sample.
Limitations
The study may not fully account for all confounding factors affecting sclerostin levels.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 362 women and 318 men, predominantly white, aged 21 to 97 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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