Association of hemoglobin levels with bone mineral density for adults over 18 years of age: a cross-sectional study

The overall objective of this study was to determine the association between hemoglobin (HGB) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar and thoracic spine of adults aged ≥ 18 years. This cross-sectional study utilized the non-institutionalized US population from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) as the sample source. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess the relationship between HGB and BMD in the lumbar and thoracic spine, with analysis of subgroups conducted according to sex and race. Smooth curve fitting was performed to explore the potential nonlinear relationship. When nonlinearity was found, we further constructed a weighted two-piecewise linear regression model and used a recursive algorithm to calculate the inflection point. After accounting for relevant confounding variables, HGB was found to be negatively associated with lumbar spine BMD in multiple regression models. However, in the subgroup analyses stratified by sex and race, the relationship between HGB and thoracic spine BMD and lumbar spine BMD was only found in women and other races and races that were not recorded. In Non-Hispanic Asian subjects, the relationship between HGB and BMD in the lumbar spine and thoracic spine showed a U-shaped curve. In addition, the relationship between HGB and BMD in the lumbar spine formed an inverted U-shaped curve among participants in other races and those whose race was not reported. Our study shows that HGB has a non-linear relationship with lumbar and thoracic BMD. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association.