Arterial stiffness is not associated with bone parameters in an elderly hyperhomocysteinemic population

Several studies have observed positive associations between bone disease and cardiovascular disease. A potential common pathway is hyperhomocysteinemia; however, to date, there is a lack of data regarding hyperhomocysteinemic populations. Therefore, we examined both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, whether there is an association between bone parameters and arterial stiffness in a hyperhomocysteinemic population, and investigated the potential common role of homocysteine (hcy) level on these associations. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data of the B-PROOF study were used (n = 519). At both baseline and 2-year follow-up we determined bone measures-incident fractures and history of fractures, bone-mineral density (BMD) and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurement. We also measured arterial stiffness parameters at baseline-pulse wave velocity, augmentation index and aortic pulse pressure levels with applanation tonometry. Linear regression analysis was used to examine these associations and we tested for potential interaction of hcy level. The mean age of the study population was 72.3 years and 44.3 % were female. Both cross-sectionally and longitudinally there was no association between arterial stiffness measures and BMD or QUS measurements or with incident fractures (n = 16) within the 2-3 years of follow-up. Hcy level did not modify the associations and adjustment for hcy did not change the results. Arterial stiffness was not associated with bone parameters and fractures, and hcy neither acted as a pleiotropic factor nor as a mediator. The potential association between bone and arterial stiffness is therefore not likely to be driven by hyperhomocysteinemia.