{"title":"Bone-muscle interactions","authors":"Hiroshi Kaji","doi":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bone and skeletal muscle jointly govern motor function, working in coordination as anatomically adjacent organs, and collaborate with through mechanical interactions. Bone and muscle cells are both derived from common mesenchymal stem cells. Muscle tissues reportedly support fracture healing and bone repair. Common factors affect muscle and bone simultaneously, and sarcopenia and osteoporosis are complications of various diseases. Research on bone-muscle interactions has progressed in the past 15 years, and clinical evidence has confirmed that a relationship exists between sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Numerous myokines or osteokines play a role in bone-muscle interactions, and the involvement of extracellular vesicles has also been suggested. Research on bone-muscle interactions may translate into clinical applications for the treatment of sarcopenia and osteoporosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19701,"journal":{"name":"Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia","volume":"11 2","pages":"Pages 32-39"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jun Lang , Vivek Kumar Morya , Mi-Kyung Kwak , Sin-Hye Park , Kyu-Cheol Noh
{"title":"Molecular crosstalk in SP7-mediated osteogenesis: Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic potential","authors":"Jun Lang , Vivek Kumar Morya , Mi-Kyung Kwak , Sin-Hye Park , Kyu-Cheol Noh","doi":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.04.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>SP7, also known as Osterix, is a zinc finger-containing transcription factor, plays a crucial role in osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. This review examines the molecular mechanisms underlying SP7's regulatory functions, highlighting its interactions with key signaling pathways such as BMP-SMAD, Wnt/β-catenin, and HIF-1α. SP7 acts downstream of RUNX2 to regulate osteogenic gene expression, including collagen Type I Alpha 1 (COL1A1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN). The review also explores the role of post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination, in modulating SP7's stability and activity. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting SP7, including gene editing, RNA-based approaches, and small-molecule modulators, are discussed as innovative solutions for treating osteoporosis and other skeletal disorders. The potential for future research into SP7's interactions with non-coding RNAs and angiogenesis pathways is emphasized, underscoring its significance in skeletal health and regenerative medicine. This comprehensive overview consolidates current knowledge of SP7's molecular functions, therapeutic potential, and its pivotal role in bone biology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19701,"journal":{"name":"Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia","volume":"11 2","pages":"Pages 31-37"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Junghwa Shin , Kwang Yoon Kim , Joo-hyun Park , Sangmi Lee , O Kyu Noh , Yong Jun Choi , Yoon-Sok Chung , Bom-Taeck Kim
{"title":"Fracture risk in Korean postmenopausal women: The influence of BMI, age, and bone density","authors":"Junghwa Shin , Kwang Yoon Kim , Joo-hyun Park , Sangmi Lee , O Kyu Noh , Yong Jun Choi , Yoon-Sok Chung , Bom-Taeck Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Fracture risk in postmenopausal women is influenced by bone mineral density (BMD), age, and body mass index (BMI). However, fracture prevention strategies primarily focus on low BMD, often overlooking other key factors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective cohort study analyzed 18,151 Korean postmenopausal women aged 50 or older who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at Ajou University Hospital from years of 2006–2014. Fracture risk was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for BMI, BMD, and age.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The median age of the cohort was 59.1 years, and the overall fracture incidence was 2.3 per 1,000 person-years. Fracture risk significantly increased with age, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.36 (95% CI: 1.08–1.70) for women aged 60–69 and 2.10% (95% CI: 1.62–2.73) for those aged 70 or older, compared to the reference group (50–59 years). Underweight women exhibited the highest fracture cumulative incidence (3.3%), though their risk increase was not statistically significant. Overweight and obese women demonstrated higher BMD but did not show significant fracture risk reductions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings highlight age as a dominant predictor of fracture risk, while BMI plays a complex, less pronounced role. The discrepancy between osteoporosis prevalence and actual fracture risk, particularly in obese elderly women, suggests limitations in BMD-focused assessments. Simple, measurable parameters like age and BMI should complement BMD in fracture risk evaluation to better target high-risk populations and enhance preventive strategies in clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19701,"journal":{"name":"Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia","volume":"11 2","pages":"Pages 65-68"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tzu-Hao Tseng , Shau-Huai Fu , Ning-Huei Sie , Yi-Chien Lu , Chen-Yu Wang , Chih-Hsing Wu
{"title":"Epidemiology of sarcopenia: A narrative review","authors":"Tzu-Hao Tseng , Shau-Huai Fu , Ning-Huei Sie , Yi-Chien Lu , Chen-Yu Wang , Chih-Hsing Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.06.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that contributes to adverse outcomes such as falls, fractures, and mortality in aging populations. Its prevalence varies widely across studies, influenced by intrinsic factors (eg, age, comorbidities, lifestyle), environmental conditions (eg, urban–rural differences, institutionalization), and the diagnostic criteria applied. This review synthesizes evidence mainly from systematic reviews and meta-analyses to examine how these factors shape the epidemiology of sarcopenia. The use of different definitions, such as EWGSOP 1/2, AWGS 2014/2019, IWGS, and FNIH, leads to large variations in prevalence estimates. This limits regional comparisons and hampers surveillance. The review also highlights key risk factors such as physical inactivity, malnutrition, smoking, irregular sleep, and cognitive impairment, although the overall certainty of evidence remains low to moderate. These findings emphasize the need for harmonized diagnostic standards and greater methodological consistency in future studies. Clinically, integrating sarcopenia screening into routine care and implementing targeted lifestyle interventions may help reduce disease burden. Future longitudinal and interventional research is essential to clarify causal pathways and guide effective public health strategies for sarcopenia prevention and management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19701,"journal":{"name":"Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia","volume":"11 2","pages":"Pages 11-21"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Definition and diagnosis of sarcopenia: Asia-Pacific perspectives","authors":"Wei-Fu Huang , Ying-Chen Chen , Chin-Sung Chang , Chih-Hsing Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.05.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.05.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sarcopenia is a progressive, age-related condition characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function. As Asia faces rapid population aging, sarcopenia has become an urgent public health concern. Over time, definitions and diagnostic criteria have evolved to emphasize muscle strength and physical performance rather than muscle mass alone. This review summarizes key updates in global and regional frameworks, including guidelines from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019). However, these strategies might be updated along with the release of AWGS 2025.</div><div>We also review current methods for evaluating muscle health. Although dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) remains a standard, it has limitations in reflecting true muscle quality and predicting outcomes. Novel techniques like deuterium-labeled creatine dilution show promise for more accurate assessment. The review highlights emerging muscle-related biomarkers—myokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), irisin, myostatin, and gelsolin—which may improve diagnostic precision and therapeutic strategies.</div><div>The Global Leadership Initiative on Sarcopenia (GLIS) introduced the first globally endorsed definition, incorporating muscle mass, strength, muscle-specific strength, and physical performance as a key outcome in 2024. This unified approach supports standardized diagnosis across clinical and research settings. Addressing sarcopenia alongside other age-related conditions is essential to prevent frailty and disability. Finally, the targeted multidomain interventions—particularly physical activity and nutrition—are critical for preserving function and quality of life in older adults.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19701,"journal":{"name":"Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia","volume":"11 2","pages":"Pages 2-10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Preventative approaches to falls and frailty","authors":"Seiji Hashimoto, Tatsuya Hosoi, Mitsutaka Yakabe, Makoto Yunoki, Shoya Matsumoto, Yoshitaka Kase, Masashi Miyawaki, Masaki Ishii, Sumito Ogawa","doi":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With increasing life expectancy, the aging population grows, leading to more age-related diseases. Among these, falls are a serious public health issue, as they cause disability in older adults and impose a significant burden both on caregivers and society. Despite numerous studies on fall risk and prevention, the incidence of falls among older adults has not shown any significant improvement. Given the multifactorial nature of falls, it is necessary to evaluate risk factors comprehensively. Recently, the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, a tool for comprehensively evaluating older adults, has been reported to help prevent falls and improve postfall outcomes. Assessing individual risks and effectively integrating exercise, nutrition, and appropriate medication management into multifactorial interventions is essential for developing effective fall prevention strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19701,"journal":{"name":"Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia","volume":"11 2","pages":"Pages 50-53"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fawziya Al-Baker , Mujahed Shraim , Amal Al-Haidose , Atiyeh M. Abdallah
{"title":"Femoral bone mineral density reference values by sex and ethnicity: Findings from the Qatar Biobank study","authors":"Fawziya Al-Baker , Mujahed Shraim , Amal Al-Haidose , Atiyeh M. Abdallah","doi":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.05.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.05.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a major global health concern due to fracture-related morbidity and mortality. BMD is currently assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) against a US reference population. The aim of the study was to establish an ethnicity- and sex-specific reference for calculating BMD at different femoral sites including femoral trochanter, Ward's triangle and femoral neck in Qatar.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional study analyzed BMD in 4727 (2277 females and 2450 males) healthy Qatari aged between 20 and 82 years participating in the Qatar Biobank (QBB) study. Standard T-scores provided by the densitometer (T<sub>DXA</sub>) were compared with ethnicity- and sex-specific T-scores for the Qatari population (T<sub>QA</sub>) calculated using data from the 20-29-year age group for different femoral sites as the reference. The concordance between T<sub>DXA</sub> and T<sub>QA</sub> was analyzed using kappa statistics.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Males consistently exhibited higher BMD values for the femoral trochanter, Ward's triangle, and the femoral neck across all age groups compared with females. Using T<sub>QA</sub> rather than T<sub>DXA</sub> as a reference at any site classified fewer individuals as having osteoporosis and osteopenia, especially for females. Agreement between T<sub>DXA</sub> and T<sub>QA</sub> was higher in males than in females.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings underscore the need for local ethnicity- and sex-specific BMD reference values. The use of T<sub>QA</sub> significantly reduced overdiagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis compared with T<sub>DXA</sub>, thereby decreasing overtreatment and impacting participant recruitment decisions into clinical studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19701,"journal":{"name":"Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia","volume":"11 2","pages":"Pages 43-49"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sarcopenia prevention in older adults: Effectiveness and limitations of non-pharmacological interventions","authors":"Doyoon Kim , Satoru Morikawa , Masashi Miyawaki , Taneaki Nakagawa , Sumito Ogawa , Yoshitaka Kase","doi":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.05.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.afos.2025.05.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sarcopenia is characterized by a decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical performance in older adults and is associated with reduced quality of life, an increased risk of requiring long-term care, and a significant economic burden on both patients and their families. In the context of global population aging, sarcopenia presents substantial health and social challenges. However, no effective pharmacological treatment has been established to date, and current management relies on non-pharmacological interventions. This review provides an overview of the most recent evidence on exercise, nutrition, and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) as strategies to prevent the onset and progression of sarcopenia and discusses their effectiveness and limitations. Although the effectiveness of resistance training, alone or in combination with multicomponent exercise, has been demonstrated, the benefits of nutritional interventions and EMS remain limited. From a pathophysiological perspective, chronic inflammation has been identified as a key contributor to sarcopenia progression and is increasingly considered a potential therapeutic target. This review underscores the significance of a comprehensive intervention strategy tailored to the needs of the older population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19701,"journal":{"name":"Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia","volume":"11 2","pages":"Pages 65-72"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}