Association of Circulating Sclerostin Levels with Fat Mass and Metabolic Disease-Related Markers in Japanese Postmenopausal Women

Context: Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is related to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, diabetes, and metabolic diseases. Sclerostin is an inhibitor of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. However, there are few data regarding the relationship between sclerostin levels and metabolic disease. Objective: This study aimed to identify the relationship between serum sclerostin levels, body composition markers, and the markers of metabolic disease. Design, Setting, and Patients: The present study is a cross-sectional study. We measured serum sclerostin levels in 352 Japanese postmenopausal women and analyzed the relationship of these levels with bone mineral density, abdominal fat mass, and biochemical markers. The mean (SD) age of the subjects was 65.5 (9.3) yr. Results: Serum sclerostin levels were positively correlated with percentages of abdominal and gynoid fat. We also analyzed the association between serum sclerostin levels and biochemical markers related to metabolic diseases. Multivariate analysis revealed that the serum sclerostin levels were significantly correlated with the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and homocysteine. Conclusions: The circulating sclerostin levels were associated with fat mass. The circulating sclerostin levels were also correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and homocysteine. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97: E1473-E1477, 2012)