IRISIN LEVELS CORRELATE WITH BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN SOCCER PLAYERS

Abstract

Irisin, a novel myokine produced in response to physical exercise by skeletal muscle, displays anaboliceffect on bone and can improve the bone-loss-induced osteoporosis in hind limb suspended mice. It is wellknown that muscles positively impact the skeleton and in different sports, including soccer, total bodybone mineral density (TB-BMD) is elevated. Therefore, we have investigated the correlation betweenirisin serum levels and total and bone sub-regional BMD in soccer players never studied before. In thisstudy, Caucasian football players of Bari team have been enrolled. Their sera were collected to measureby ELISA kit irisin levels and by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) analysis measurementsof BMD (g • cm−2) in the whole body and different bone sub-regions (head, arms, legs, ribs, dorsalvertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, pelvis) were performed. The BMC (g) was measured in the whole body.By means of Pearson’s (R) and Cohen’s (d) coefficient we investigated the linear association betweenthe irisin serum levels and BMD. In soccer players, we have found a positive correlation between irisinand TB-BMD as demonstrated by the values of Pearson and Cohen’s (d) coefficient. Furthermore,linear association was detected between irisin and BMD of different bone-site such as right arm, lumbarvertebrae and head. A positive trend was also observed analyzing circulating levels of irisin and bonemineral content as well as total Z-score. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the correlation betweenirisin and total or bone sub-regional BMD in soccer players for the first time, an additional systemiceffect of the “sport-hormone” defined myokine.