[Bone metabolism in dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome]

Dyslipidemia and osteoporosis are etiologically related to each other. Experiments show that oxidized LDL suppresses the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to osteoblasts, while it promotes that to adipocytes, which may result in fatty marrow and bone mass reduction. Inactivation of LRP5÷6 is linked to hypercholesterolemia as well as bone mass reduction, indicating the involvement of Wnt signaling in both disorders. A few clinical studies suggest that high serum triglyceride levels may lower the risk of vertebral fractures. Metabolic syndrome, especially visceral fat accumulation, may have a beneficial effect on bone possibly through mechanical stress from gravity, as long as patients are devoid of advanced type 2 diabetes and are less affected by hyperglycemia or oxidative stress.