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Age determines longitudinal changes in body composition better than menopausal and bone status: the OFELY study
Elisabeth Sornay-Rendu1, Caroline Karras-Guillibert, Francoise Munoz
1INSERM Research Unit 1033 and Université de Lyon, Lyon, France. elisabeth.rendu@inserm.fr
Summary
Aging significantly impacts body composition changes in French women over six years. While lean mass remained stable, fat mass increased and bone mineral content decreased, with age being the primary driver.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Human Physiology
- Bone and Mineral Metabolism
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Long-term body composition (BC) changes and their determinants are under-researched.
- Understanding BC shifts is crucial for healthy aging and disease prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate BC changes in French women over a 6-year period.
- To identify key determinants of these BC changes, including age, menopausal status, and bone health.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Os des Femmes de Lyon (OFELY) cohort.
- Longitudinal assessment of body composition parameters: fat mass (FM), lean body mass (LM), relative skeletal muscle mass index (RASM), and total body bone mineral content (TBBMC).
- Statistical analysis to determine the influence of age, menopausal status, and bone mineral density (BMD) on BC changes.
Main Results:
- Over 6 years, LM and RASM remained stable, while FM increased and TBBMC decreased in premenopausal and perimenopausal women.
- Untreated postmenopausal women experienced increased FM and decreased LM, RASM, and TBBMC.
- Age was the primary determinant of BC changes; menopausal status significantly affected TBBMC changes after age adjustment.
- Higher P1NP levels correlated with greater decreases in LM and RASM.
Conclusions:
- Body composition changes in French women exhibit significant interindividual variability.
- Aging appears to be the most critical factor influencing BC changes, more so than menopausal or bone status.
- These findings highlight the complex interplay of factors affecting body composition during aging.
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