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Updated: Apr 3, 2026
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Bone marrow fat unsaturation in young adults is not affected by present or childhood obesity, but increases with age:
Ville Huovinen1, Heli Viljakainen2, Antti Hakkarainen3
1Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Radiology, Turku University, Medical Imaging Centre of Southwest Finland and Turku University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Objectives:
Obesity increases bone marrow fat (BMF) content. The association between early obesity and bone marrow fatty acid composition is unknown. We measured BMF unsaturation index (UI) in normal-weight and overweight young adults with a known weight status in early childhood and tested the relationship between BMF UI and exercise history, glycemic state, and other clinical characteristics.
Methods:
The study included 18 normal-weight (BMI <25 kg/m(2); 2 males, 16 females) and 17 overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m(2); 9 males, 8 females) young adults aged 15-27 years. BMF UI was assessed with magnetic resonance proton spectroscopy optimized to reduce water interference. Exercise information was obtained with a pedometer accompanied with the history of recent physical activity. Blood samples (insulin, glucose, HbA1c) and body characteristics (BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat composition) were assessed.
Results:
BMF UI was not affected by obesity at the time of study or before age 7 years. BMF UI increased with age in normal-weight and overweight subjects (R=0.408, p=0.015) but did not associate with gender, physical activity or body fat composition; a suggestive association was observed with glucose (R=-0.289, p=0.10).
Conclusions:
The association of BMF UI with age in early adulthood may represent normal maturation of bone marrow. There was a trend toward an association with blood glucose, warranting further studies.
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