Introduction and objective:

abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is a predictor of cardiovascular events. This study aimed to assess the association of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) in the presence and progression of AAC, as well as changes to bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine and femoral neck.

Materials and methods:

a total of 326 men and women over 50 years of age were selected for this study. They completed a questionnaire, underwent two lateral dorso-lumbar spine X-rays, and BMD measurements. The same tests and 1 analytical assessment were repeated after 4 years.

Results:

the presence and progression of AAC (new occurrences or increased severity) were lower in GGT quartile 1 (Q1) compared with the other quartiles (40 % vs 58 %; p = 0.021; 24 % vs 44 %; p = 0.022). Compared with Q1, the confounders-adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that Q2 and Q4 were associated with more presence of AAC [odds ratio (OR), 2.53; 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI), 1.22-5.25 and OR, 3.04; 95 % CI, 1.36-6.77]. Additionally, Q2, Q3, and Q4 were associated with more AAC progression [OR, 2.24; 95 % CI, 1.07-4.67; OR, 2.35; 95 % CI, 1.09-5.07; and OR, 3.47; 95 % CI, 1.56-7.70]. The gender-stratified multivariate analysis revealed that in both men and women, the Q4 of GGT was associated with AAC progression [OR, 3.27; 95 % CI, 1.14-9.36, and OR, 3.26; 95 % CI, 1.03-10.29, respectively], and in women alone, with greater lumbar BMD losses. There were no effects regarding the prevalence of AAC.

Conclusions:

elevated GGT levels could serve as an indicator of the presence and progression of AAC in individuals older than 50 years. When analyzed separately by gender, higher GGT levels were associated with AAC progression, which acted as a prognostic marker for cardiovascular disease.

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