In a study from Vanderbilt University, scientists found high blood pressure may accelerate bone aging.
When high blood pressure was induced in young mice, they had bone loss and osteoporosis-related bone damage comparable to older mice.
High blood pressure and osteoporosis are prevalent diseases, and people may have both at the same time.
In this study, researchers examined inflammation associated with high blood pressure in mice and found it may be connected to osteoporosis.
They compared young mice with induced hypertension to older mice without hypertension to assess the possible link of hypertension to bone aging.
The human age equivalent was about 20-30 years old for the young mice and about 47-56 years old for the older mice. Bone health was determined by the strength and density of the bone.
When compared to the young mice without high blood pressure, the young mice with induced hypertension had a big 24% reduction in bone volume fraction, an 18% reduction in the thickness of the sponge-like trabecular bone located at the end of long bones, such as femurs and the spinal column, and a 34% reduction in estimated failure force, which is the ability of bones to withstand different types of force.
In contrast, the older mice who were given the angiotensin-II infusion did not exhibit similar bone loss.
During the study, however, the old mice, with or without high blood pressure, exhibited a reduced bone quality similar to that of the hypertensive young mice.
In the hypertensive young mice, the team found an increase in the number of inflammatory signaling molecules, indicating an increase in inflammation in the bones when compared to the young mice that did not receive angiotensin II.
It appeared that high blood pressure was adjusting the bone remodeling process toward bone loss, rather than bone gain or bone equilibrium, in the hypertensive young mice.
As a result, bones will be weaker, leading to an increased risk for osteoporosis and fragility fracture. In humans, this might mean that we should screen for osteoporosis in people with high blood pressure.
Hennen adds that these findings may help researchers identify the immune cells and mechanisms that play a role in human bone health.
This depth of knowledge may lead to new approaches to preventing osteoporosis in early adulthood.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about how COVID-19 pandemic harms blood pressure health, and this daily snack may help you reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that, sometimes, the best treatment for high blood pressure is to wait, and results showing blood pressure rising at night may double death risk in people with diabetes.
The study was conducted by Elizabeth Maria Hennen et al and presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2022 conference.
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