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Fat-Bone Interactions in Adults With Spina Bifida
Anne Trinh1,2,3, Phillip Wong1,2,3, Anuradha Sakthivel4
1Department of Endocrinology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia.
Journal of the Endocrine Society
|December 22, 2017
Summary
Obesity and low bone mineral density (BMD) are common in adults with spina bifida (SB). Increased fat mass is linked to higher BMD, but metabolic complications are prevalent and require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Endocrinology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Spina bifida (SB) is associated with altered body composition and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) due to factors like limited ambulation and medication.
- Emerging comorbidities in adults with SB include obesity and osteoporosis, necessitating better management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between cardiometabolic risk factors, body composition, BMD, and minimal trauma fractures (MTFs) in adults with SB.
- To identify potential correlations between metabolic health, bone density, and fracture risk in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study design.
- Analysis of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) data from 49 adults with SB (median age 32.7 years).
- Comparison with national health survey data for body composition metrics.
Main Results:
- Over half of the participants (53.1%) were obese, with 62.5% having excess body fat.
- Low bone mass was detected in 21.9% at the lumbar spine and 35.1% at the femoral neck.
- Increased fat mass showed a significant positive correlation with BMD (18.6% variance explained).
- Prevalence of hypertension (20.4%) and obstructive sleep apnea (16.3%) was notably high.
Conclusions:
- Obesity and low BMD are prevalent issues in young adults with spina bifida.
- Higher fat mass is significantly associated with better BMD in this cohort.
- The increased prevalence of metabolic complications warrants further research and clinical attention.
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