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Published on: January 29, 2018
Muscle mass and bone mineral indices: does the normalized bone mineral content differ with age?
K Sanada1, M Miyachi, I Tabata
1Consolidated Research Institute for Advanced Science and Medical Care, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. sanada@waseda.jp
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|January 24, 2008
Summary
Skeletal muscle mass (SM mass) and bone mineral indices are linked. Age-related bone mineral content (BMC) loss in postmenopausal women
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Bone Health
- Sarcopenia
Background:
- Skeletal muscle mass (SM mass) and bone mineral content (BMC) are crucial for overall health.
- Understanding their relationship across the lifespan, particularly in aging women, is important for maintaining bone health.
- Previous research suggests a link, but regional differences and age-related changes require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between regional skeletal muscle mass and bone mineral indices in women.
- To determine if bone mineral content normalized to muscle mass decreases with age.
- To explore age-related changes in bone and muscle mass in young, middle-aged, and older postmenopausal women.
Main Methods:
- 138 women (20-76 years) were divided into young, middle-aged postmenopausal, and older postmenopausal groups.
- Muscle thickness (MTH) measured by ultrasound to estimate regional SM mass (arm, trunk, leg).
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) used for whole-body and regional lean soft tissue mass (LSTM), bone mineral density (BMD), and BMC.
Main Results:
- Significant correlations were found between site-matched regional SM mass and bone mineral indices, consistent with LSTM.
- Older women had significantly lower BMC and BMD than middle-aged women.
- BMC normalized to SM mass in the arm and trunk regions differed significantly with age, but not in the whole body or leg.
Conclusions:
- Age-related bone mineral content differences in the arm and trunk are independent of skeletal muscle mass aging.
- Bone mineral content differences in the leg and whole body correspond to age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass in postmenopausal women.
- These findings highlight regional variations in the interplay between muscle and bone aging in women.
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