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Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
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Body composition and bone mineral density in childhood.
Lisa B Rokoff1, Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman1, Karen M Switkowski1
1Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
Bone
|December 18, 2018
Summary
Lean body mass positively impacts bone density in children. However, high levels of central body fat may negatively affect bone mineral density, suggesting a potential threshold effect.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Bone Biology
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Bone accrual in children can be influenced differently by various body mass compartments.
- Previous studies often used small sample sizes and linear regression, limiting insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between overall body mass, fat-free mass, total fat mass, and truncal/non-truncal fat with bone mineral density in children.
- To evaluate these associations using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and anthropometry.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 876 Boston-area children (median age 7.7 years).
- Utilized DXA measurements and anthropometry to assess body composition.
- Employed generalized additive models to examine the linearity of associations.
Main Results:
- Fat-free mass showed a positive association with areal bone mineral density (aBMD) Z-score.
- Truncal fat demonstrated a non-linear, negative association with aBMD Z-score in the top 15% of fat mass.
- Non-truncal fat mass was not significantly associated with aBMD Z-score.
Conclusions:
- Central adiposity is linked to reduced aBMD Z-score in children with high abdominal fat levels.
- Suggests a potential threshold for central adipose tissue where it may negatively impact bone health.
- Highlights the importance of considering body composition, particularly fat distribution, in pediatric bone health.
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