Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Dec 15;36(26):2293-8. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182254a18.
Cross-sectional cohort study of elderly people.
The relationships of osteophyte formation on plain lumbar radiographs with serum levels of antioxidants (carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin E) and other factors were investigated to examine whether antioxidants are involved in lumbar spine degeneration.
Antioxidants have inhibitory effects on the onset of many diseases. However, the association of lumbar osteophyte formation with antioxidant levels in the general population has not been investigated.
The subjects were 286 people (103 men and 183 women; mean age = 68 years) who underwent resident health screening. Osteophyte formation on lumbar lateral radiographs (Nathan classification), lumbar lordosis angles, sacral inclination angles, serum levels of antioxidants, triglyceride levels, body mass index, osteoporosis, back muscle strength, history of alcohol intake, and smoking history were studied in these subjects.
Lumbar osteophyte formation was detected in 48 subjects (17%). Osteophyte formation was significantly more common in elderly persons, men, and subjects with a history of alcohol intake; and had a significant correlation with sacral inclination angle. The levels of α-tocopherol, β-tocopherol, zeaxanthin/lutein, cryptoxanthin, lycopene, α-carotene, and β-carotene were significantly lower in subjects with osteophytes. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for all factors showed that a higher age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-1.16; P = 0.02) and a low β-carotene level (OR = 6.7, 95% CI = 1.39-32.6; P = 0.02) were risk factors for osteophyte formation.
The serum levels of carotenoids and vitamin E were significantly lower in subjects with lumbar osteophyte formation, and a low β-carotene level was the strongest risk factor for lumbar osteophytes. This is the first evidence of an association between carotenoids and lumbar osteophyte formation. This finding suggests that appropriate dietary intake of antioxidants is important for inhibition of lumbar spine degeneration in a rapidly aging society.
老年人的横断面队列研究。
研究腰椎平片上骨赘形成与血清抗氧化剂（类胡萝卜素、维生素 A、维生素 E）水平及其他因素的关系，以探讨抗氧化剂是否参与腰椎退变。
抗氧化剂对许多疾病的发生具有抑制作用。然而，一般人群中腰椎骨赘形成与抗氧化剂水平的关系尚未得到研究。
本研究对象为 286 人（男 103 人，女 183 人；平均年龄 68 岁），均接受居民健康筛查。研究了这些受试者的腰椎侧位片（Nathan 分级）、腰椎前凸角、骶骨倾斜角、血清抗氧化剂水平、甘油三酯水平、体重指数、骨质疏松症、腰背肌力量、饮酒史和吸烟史。
48 名受试者（17%）检测出腰椎骨赘形成。骨赘形成在老年人、男性和有饮酒史的人群中更为常见，与骶骨倾斜角有显著相关性。有骨赘的受试者 α-生育酚、β-生育酚、玉米黄质/叶黄素、隐黄质、番茄红素、α-胡萝卜素和β-胡萝卜素水平显著降低。经调整所有因素的 logistic 回归分析显示，年龄较大（比值比[OR] = 1.1，95%置信区间[CI] = 1.02-1.16；P = 0.02）和β-胡萝卜素水平较低（OR = 6.7，95% CI = 1.39-32.6；P = 0.02）是骨赘形成的危险因素。
腰椎骨赘形成患者血清类胡萝卜素和维生素 E 水平显著降低，β-胡萝卜素水平较低是腰椎骨赘形成的最强危险因素。这是类胡萝卜素与腰椎骨赘形成之间存在关联的首次证据。这一发现表明，在人口迅速老龄化的社会中，适当摄入抗氧化剂对抑制腰椎退变很重要。
