Both trabecular and cortical BMD affect coronary-artery calcium score: JAMA

Sweden: Trabecular and cortical volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) have opposite association with coronary-artery calcium score (CACS), suggests a recent study in the journal JAMA Cardiology. The findings of the study suggest a different role of trabecular and cortical volumetric BMD on coronary artery calcification risk, mainly in women. 

Both trabecular and cortical volumetric bone-mineral density (BMD) are associated with coronary-artery calcium score (CACS), but in different directions, according to a new pilot study.

The association between cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis has been reported extensively. Previous studies have shown an inverse relationship between trabecular bone volumetric BMD in the spine and CACS. However, the association between cortical vBMD (Ct.vBMD) in the long bones and CACS might be different from the association for Tb.vBMD as the 2 bone compartments are largely differentially regulated. In simpler words higher the trabecular volumetric BMD in the spine lower is the coronary-artery calcium score (CACS) but the relationship between cortical volumetric BMD with CACS has not been reported before.