1. Different Fat Types can Help or Hinder Obese Girls’ Bone Health

According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), obese teenage girls with a greater ratio of visceral fat (fat around internal organs) to subcutaneous fat (fat found just beneath the skin) are likely to have lower bone density than peers with a lower ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat.

“Visceral fat is known to increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease in obese people,” said Madhusmita Misra, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital and senior author of the study. “Our study suggests that visceral fat may also have an impact on bone health. This finding is particularly relevant given the rising prevalence of obesity and recent studies suggesting a higher risk of fractures in some obese individuals.”

In this study, researchers examined 30 adolescent girls (15 obese and 15 normal weight) between the ages of 12 and 18 years. After measuring weight and height, researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure subcutaneous and visceral fat tissue and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess bone density at the spine, hip and whole body. They found that subcutaneous fat and visceral fat had reciprocal associations with bone density measures, with subcutaneous fat demonstrating positive associations and visceral fat demonstrating inverse associations.

“We do not yet fully understand the chemical mediators of the associations between regional fat and bone health,” said Misra. “It is possible that inflammatory cytokines, types of signaling molecules used in cellular communication, or hormones like adiponectin or leptin are potential mediators of these associations between fat and bone, but further studies are needed to determine their true impact on bone metabolism.”

Other researchers working on the study include Melissa Russell, Nara Mendes, Karen Miller and Anne Klibanski of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass.; Clifford Rosen of Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough, Maine; and Hang Lee of Harvard Catalyst in Boston, Mass.

The article, “Visceral Fat is a Negative Predictor of Bone Density Measures in Obese Adolescent Girls,” will appear in the March 2010 issue of JCEM.

2.  Hormone Thought to Slow Aging Associated with Increased Risk of Cancer Death

According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), older men with high levels of the hormone IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor 1) are at increased risk of cancer death, independent of age, lifestyle and cancer history.

IGF-I is a protein hormone similar in structure to insulin and is regulated in the body by growth hormone (GH). Levels of GH and IGF-I decline progressively with age in both men and women and this drop is thought to be related to deteriorating health conditions found with advanced age. In an attempt to combat aging some people use GH as its actions elevate IGF-1.This study however showed that older men who had higher levels of IGF-I were more likely to die from a cancer-related cause in the following 18 years than men with lower levels.

“This is the first population-based study to show an association of higher IGF-I levels with increased risk of a cancer-related death in older men,” said Gail Laughlin, PhD, of the University of California San Diego, and corresponding author of the study. “Although the design of this study does not explicitly show that the higher IGF-I levels caused the cancer death, it does encourage more study as well as a reexamination of the use of IGF-I enhancing therapies as an anti-aging strategy.”

In this study researchers used data on 633 men aged 50 and older from the Rancho Bernardo Study, a population-based study of healthy aging. Study participants took part in a research clinic examination between the years of 1988 and 1991 where their blood was obtained and IGF-1 was measured. All participants had their vital status followed through July 2006. Researchers found that men in this study who had IGF-I levels above 100 ng/ml had almost twice the risk of cancer death in the following 18 years than men with lower levels.

“In this study, the increased risk of cancer death for older men with high levels of IGF-I was not explained by differences in age, body size, lifestyle or cancer history,” said Jacqueline Major, PhD, lead author on the study, now at the National Cancer Institute. “If these results are confirmed in other populations, these findings suggest that serum IGF-I may have potential importance as a biomarker for prognostic testing.”

Other researchers working on the study include: the Principal Investigator and founder of the Rancho Bernardo Study, Elizabeth Barrett-Connor; and Donna Kritz-Silverstein and Deborah Wingard of the University of California, San Diego.

The article, “Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) and Cancer Mortality in Older Men,” will appear in the March 2010 issue of JCEM.

3. New Patient Fact Sheet on Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Available

The Hormone Foundation has published a new bilingual (English and Spanish) fact sheet on congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a group of genetic disorders in which the two adrenal
glands do not work properly.  It describes classic and nonclassic CAH, including signs, symptoms, and treatment, and explains how CAH is diagnosed.  The fact also offers a brief run-down of adrenal hormones and their functions. For more information visit: http://www.hormone.org/Resources/upload/congenital-adrenal-hyperplasia-020410.pdf.

4. News Media Registration Open for ENDO 2010: The 92nd Annual Meeting & Expo in San Diego, Calif.

The 92nd Annual Meeting & Expo, taking place in San Diego, CA on June 19-22, 2010, is an unique opportunity for journalists to learn about the latest research in fields as diverse as obesity, endocrine disruptors, diabetes, growth hormones, sex steroids, thyroid cancer and much more. For public information officers, ENDO provides a worldwide stage to promote your institution's research to reporters through news releases and participation by your scientists in news conferences.

News Media Registration Information

Registering as media does not guarantee approval in receiving a press pass. The Endocrine Society will review the credentials of all reporters seeking to attend ENDO to ensure eligibility requirements are met. Media approved for attendance will receive official notification via email from Endocrine Society staff.

Reporter Eligibility

• Working press employed by bona fide news media: must present a press card, business card, or letter of introduction from an editor of a recognized publication.

• Freelance writers: must present a current members card from the American Medical Writers Association or the National Association of Science Writers; evidence of by-lined work pertaining to science, health, medicine, or biomedical research intended for the general public and published within the past two years; or a letter of assignment from a recognized publication.

• Public information officers of scientific societies, medical associations, educational institutions, and government agencies: must present a business card.

• Representatives of for-profit corporations and of the business side of news media must register onsite, pay the appropriate fees, and are not accredited as Press at the meeting.

• Researchers and clinicians who are also reporters and who are presenting at this meeting (oral or poster session) may receive news media credentials if they qualify (see above), but must also register for the meeting and pay the appropriate fee as a presenter.