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Published on: January 29, 2018
Effect of body composition on bone mineral density in Moroccan patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Dalal El Badri1, Samira Rostom1, Ilham Bouaddi1
1Department of Rheumatology, EL Ayachi Hospital, University Hospital of Rabat-Sale, 11000, Sale, Morocco.
Insights
Lean tissue mass (LTM) positively impacts bone mineral density (BMD) in adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This finding highlights LTM as a key factor in bone health for this patient group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Bone Metabolism
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- The relationship between bone mass and body composition is established, yet under-researched in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
- Limited studies explore body composition's influence on bone mineral density (BMD) in pediatric patients with JIA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of body composition on BMD in Moroccan children diagnosed with JIA.
- To identify specific body composition components associated with BMD in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study included 33 Moroccan children (4-16 years) with JIA.
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) assessed bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and body composition (fat tissue mass - FTM, lean tissue mass - LTM).
- BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and total body; LTM and FTM were expressed in kilograms.
Main Results:
- Fat mass (FTM) showed no significant relationship with bone density.
- Bone mineral density (BMD) was positively associated with lean tissue mass (LTM) in the total body (r=0.41, p=0.04).
- A significant correlation was observed between bone mineral content (BMC) and total body BMD (r=0.51, p=0.01).
Conclusions:
- Lean tissue mass (LTM) emerges as a significant determinant of bone mineral density (BMD) during adolescence in JIA patients.
- Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to validate the association between LTM and BMD in JIA.
- Body composition, particularly LTM, should be considered in managing bone health in children with JIA.
Introduction:
The link between bone mass and body composition is widely recognized, but only few works were selectively performed on subjects with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of body composition on bone mineral density (BMD) in Moroccan patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Methods:
Thirty three children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) were included in a cross-sectional study. The diagnosis of JIA was made according to the criteria of the International League of Association of Rheumatology (ILAR). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from the ratio of weight/height(2)(kg/m(2)). Pubertal status was determined according to the Tanner criteria. Bone status, body composition and bone mineral content (BMC) were analyzed by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMD was assessed at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and at total body in (g/cm(2)). Total body fat tissue mass (FTM) and lean tissue mass (LTM) were also analyzed by DXA and expressed in kilograms. In children, low BMD was defined as a Z-score less than -2 and osteoporosis was defined as a Z-score less than -2 with a fracture history.
Results:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 33 Moroccan patients with JIA aged between 4 and 16 years, Fat mass was not related to bone density; in contrast, BMD was positively associated to LTM in total body(r = =0.41, p= 0.04) but not in lumbar spine (r = 0.29, p= 0.17). There exist significant correlation between BMC and BMD in total body (r = 0.51, p = 0.01).
Conclusion:
This study suggests that the LTM is a determining factor of the BMD during adolescence. Other studies with a broader sample would be useful to confirm this relation.
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