BackgroundTelomere attrition may share common biological mechanisms with bone and muscle loss with aging. Here, we investigated the association between these hallmarks of aging using data from UK Biobank, a large observational study.MethodsLeukocyte telomere length (LTL as T/S ratio) was measured using a multiplex qPCR assay at baseline (2006–2010). Bone mineral density (whole body and regional; via dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry), trabecular bone score (via lumbar‐spine dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry images), fat‐free muscle volume (thighs; via magnetic resonance imaging), and muscle fat infiltration (thighs; via magnetic resonance imaging) were measured during the imaging visit (2014–2018). Regression models were used to model LTL against a muscle or bone outcome, unadjusted and adjusted for covariates.ResultsA total of 16 356 adults (mean age: 62.8 ± 7.5 years, 50.5% women) were included. In the fully adjusted model, thigh fat‐free muscle volume was associated with LTL in the overall sample (adjusted standardized β (aβ) = 0.017, 95% CI 0.009 to 0.026, P < 0.001, per SD increase in LTL), with stronger associations in men (aβ = 0.022, 95% CI 0.010 to 0.034, P < 0.001) than in women (aβ = 0.013, 95% CI 0.000 to 0.025, P = 0.041) (sex‐LTL P = 0.028). The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for low thigh fat‐free muscle volume (body mass index‐adjusted, sex‐specific bottom 20%) was 0.93 per SD increase in LTL (95% CI 0.89 to 0.96, P < 0.001) in the overall sample, with stronger associations in men (aOR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.99, P = 0.008) than women (aOR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.98, P = 0.009), although the sex difference was not statistically significant in this model (sex‐LTL P = 0.37). LTL was not associated with bone mineral density, trabecular bone score, or muscle fat infiltration in the overall or subgroup analyses (P > 0.05).ConclusionsLTL was consistently associated with thigh fat‐free muscle volume in men and women. Future research should investigate moderating effects of lifestyle factors (e.g., physical activity, nutrition, or chronic diseases) in the association between LTL and muscle volume.

中文翻译：

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白细胞端粒长度与 MRI 大腿去脂肌肉体积相关：来自 16 356 名英国生物银行成年人的数据

背景端粒磨损可能与衰老引起的骨和肌肉损失具有共同的生物学机制。在这里，我们使用来自英国生物银行（一项大型观察性研究）的数据研究了这些衰老标志之间的关联。方法使用多重 qPCR 测定在基线（2006-2010 年）测量白细胞端粒长度（LTL 作为 T/S 比）。骨矿物质密度（全身和局部；通过双能 X 射线骨密度测定）、骨小梁评分（通过腰椎双能 X 射线骨密度测定图像）、去脂肌肉体积（大腿；通过磁共振成像）和肌肉脂肪浸润（大腿；通过磁共振成像）在成像访问期间（2014-2018）进行测量。回归模型用于针对肌肉或骨骼结果建立 LTL 模型，未调整和针对协变量进行调整。结果 总共包括 16 356 名成年人（平均年龄：62.8 ± 7.5 岁，50.5% 女性）。在完全调整的模型中，大腿去脂肌肉体积与整个样本中的 LTL 相关（调整后的标准化β（Aβ) = 0.017, 95% CI 0.009 至 0.026,磷< 0.001，LTL 每增加一个 SD），与男性的关联性更强（aβ= 0.022，95% CI 0.010 至 0.034，磷< 0.001）比女性（aβ= 0.013，95% CI 0.000 至 0.025，磷= 0.041) (性别-LTL磷= 0.028）。 LTL 每增加一个 SD，调整后的大腿去脂肌肉体积（体重指数调整后，性别特异性下限 20%）的比值比 (aOR) 为 0.93（95% CI 0.89 至 0.96，磷< 0.001）在整个样本中，男性的相关性更强（aOR = 0.92，95% CI 0.87 至 0.99，磷= 0.008）高于女性（aOR = 0.93，95% CI 0.88 至 0.98，磷= 0.009），尽管在此模型中性别差异不具有统计显着性（性别-LTL磷= 0.37）。在总体或亚组分析中，LTL 与骨矿物质密度、骨小梁评分或肌肉脂肪浸润无关。磷> 0.05)。结论LTL 与男性和女性大腿去脂肌肉体积一致相关。未来的研究应该调查生活方式因素（例如体力活动、营养或慢性疾病）对 LTL 和肌肉体积之间关系的调节作用。