Cysteine, homocysteine and bone mineral density: a role for body composition?
Elshorbagy AK., Gjesdal CG., Nurk E., Tell GS., Ueland PM., Nygård O., Tverdal A., Vollset SE., Smith AD., Refsum H.
BACKGROUND: Plasma total cysteine (tCys) and homocysteine (tHcy) are associated with body composition, which in turn affects bone mineral density (BMD). OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether associations of tCys and tHcy with BMD are mediated through body composition (fat mass and/or lean mass). DESIGN: Using data from 5238 Hordaland Homocysteine Study participants, we fit multiple linear regression models and concentration-response curves to explore the relationships between tCys, tHcy, and BMD, with and without adjustment for body mass index (BMI), lean mass and/or fat mass. RESULTS: All associations were stronger in women. tCys was positively associated with BMD (women, partial r=0.11; men, partial r=0.07, p