Objective To explore the correlation between lipid biomarkers and bone mineral density. Methods Using cross-sectional data from the NHANES database from 2007-2010, a total of 3,213 participants were included by screening to obtain their bone mineral density (BMD) of the total femur, femoral neck, and lumbar spine, as well as lipid biomarkers, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and other data. Multiple linear regression models and smoothed curve fitting were used to correct for confounders such as age, sex, race, body mass index, laboratory parameters, and lifestyle to explore the correlation between lipid biomarkers and BMD. In addition, subgroup analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results. Results After fully adjusting for covariates, TG and HDL were not significantly correlated with BMD of the total femur, femoral neck, and lumbar spine (P>0.05). TC was negatively correlated with BMD of the femoral neck and lumbar spine [femoral neck: β=?0.0001, 95%CI (?0.0002,?0.0000), P=0.030; lumbar spine: β=?0.0002, 95%CI (?0.0004,?0.0001), P<0.001]. LDL was not significantly correlated with total femoral BMD, while it was negatively correlated with BMD of the femoral neck and lumbar spine [femoral neck: β=?0.0001, 95%CI (?0.0003,?0.0000), P=0.019; lumbar spine: β=?0.0003, 95%CI (?0.0004,?0.0001), P<0.001]. Subgroup analyses showed that after fully adjusting for covariates, the negative association between TC and lumbar spine BMD in women [β =?0.0002, 95%CI (?0.0004,?0.0000), P=0.017] and non-Hispanic whites [β =?0.0003, 95%CI (?0.0004,?0.0001), P=0.006] was more significant. The negative correlation between LDL and lumbar BMD was more significant in men [β =?0.0003, 95%CI (?0.0005,?0.0001), P=0.012] and non-Hispanic whites [β =?0.0003, 95%CI (?0.0005,?0.0001), P=0.005]. Smooth curve fitting was used to address the non-linear relationship among TC, LDL and lumbar BMD. The results showed that TC, LDL, and lumbar BMD were all linearly negatively correlated. In the female subgroup, the smoothed curve fitting results suggested a nonlinear relationship between TC and lumbar spine BMD, with one inflection point. Analysis using the piecewise linear regression model showed the inflection point to be 180 mg/dL. Conclusion TC and LDL are negatively correlated with BMD of the femoral neck and lumbar spine. Compared with TG and HDL, TC and LDL may be potential lipid biomarkers for the identification of osteoporosis. |