A new study from the Keck School of Medicine at USC has found that proteins linked to inflammation may play a role in bone strength over time. The findings, published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, could help identify early warning signs for bone health issues later in life.
Bone mineral density (BMD) measures the strength of bones based on their mineral content. It reaches its highest point in young adulthood and gradually declines with age. BMD is an important predictor of conditions like osteoporosis, which weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures.
How the Study Was Conducted
Researchers followed 304 overweight and obese Latino adolescents, ages 8 to 13, over three years as part of the Study of Latino Adolescents at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes. They tracked changes in bone mineral density while analyzing more than 650 proteins to see which ones were linked to bone health.
Using a specialized database, the researchers identified which biological pathways these proteins were involved in. Their main discovery was that many of the proteins connected to bone density were also part of inflammatory and immune system pathways.
Similar links have been found in studies on older adults, suggesting that inflammation may play a role in bone weakening over a lifetime.
Chronic inflammation is already known to interfere with normal bone processes, leading to lower bone density. This study suggests that these effects may start much earlier in life than previously thought.
Why This Research Matters
Millions of adults in the U.S. suffer from bone diseases related to low bone mass, and the number is rising as the population ages. Childhood is a crucial time for bone development, and reaching peak bone density in early life can help prevent problems later.
However, past studies on BMD have mostly focused on small groups of older adults, particularly non-Hispanic white or Chinese women. Since osteoporosis is more common in women, most research has overlooked men and younger populations.
“This is one of the first studies to examine how proteins affect bone density in younger people,” said lead author Emily Beglarian, a doctoral candidate in epidemiology. “Understanding bone health at an early age can help us find ways to support stronger bones throughout life.”
Identifying Early Warning Signs
The researchers also tested a smaller group of young adults to see if certain proteins had similar effects on bone density. They found that some of the same proteins were linked to lower bone strength in both adolescents and young adults.
Since low BMD increases the risk of osteoporosis later in life, identifying these proteins could help doctors predict who is at risk and recommend early interventions.
Beglarian hopes this research will lead to new ways to support bone health long before serious problems develop. “Most previous studies have looked at bone density later in life, when levels are already low. My goal is to find ways to help people build stronger bones early, so they stay healthier for longer,” she said.
This study highlights the importance of considering inflammation as a factor in bone health and suggests that early detection and prevention strategies could make a significant difference.
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The research findings can be found in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
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