Researchers from a major Asian university have identified a link between high levels of a signaling molecule called CXCL9 and an increased risk of hip fractures in men, a pattern not seen in women. The finding appears in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
The research included 55 men and 119 women who experienced a hip fracture on average 6.2 years after their blood samples were taken. A control group of 55 individuals without fractures was also studied. At the time of the hip fracture, men averaged 75.4 years old and women 73.3 years old. Men who later fractured tended to have a lower body mass index and were more likely to smoke, while women who fractured were more prone to diabetes.
Compared with controls, CXCL9 was found at higher levels in men and even predated the fracture in their blood. This association was not observed in women, which may reflect differences in sex hormones.
The researchers suggest that early interventions aimed at interrupting the signaling pathways involving CXCL9 could help reduce hip fracture risk in older men.
Bone health depends on the synchronized activity of bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. When osteoclast activity dominates, osteoporosis can develop, raising fracture risk. Osteoporosis and hip fractures are more common among women, yet CXCL9 may contribute to fracture risk in men by promoting osteoclast formation. This study offers a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for preventing fractures in aging men.