Circulating SIRT1 and Sclerostin Correlates with Bone Status in Young Women with Different Degrees of Adiposity

Abstract

Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and sclerostin play important roles in adipose tissue and bone metabolism. We evaluated the circulating SIRT1 and sclerostin relationship with mass and quality of bone while considering the degree of adiposity. Sixty-six premenopausal women (16 underweight, 25 normal weight and 25 with obesity), aged <50 years, were enrolled. Plasma SIRT1, sclerostin and DXA body composition (total fat mass (FM), abdominal visceral adipose tissue, lean mass, trabecular bone score (TBS) and lumbar spine and femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD)) were assessed. The patients with obesity showed the lowest SIRT1 and TBS values and the highest sclerostin concentrations; BMD increased with FM and BMI and had an inverse association with SIRT1. Sclerostin was negatively correlated with SIRT1 (ρ = −0.37, p = 0.002). When spine BMD, FN BMD and TBS were standardized for BMI, a positive correlation with SIRT1 and a negative correlation with sclerostin were seen (p < 0.005). In the regression analysis, sclerostin was the best independent, negative predictor for BMD and TBS, while SIRT1 directly predicted TBS (p < 0.05). In conclusion, blood measurement of SIRT1 and sclerostin could represent a snapshot of the bone status that, taking into account the degree of adiposity, may reduce the interference of confounding factors in the interpretation of bone health parameters.