Linking bone marrow fat with decreased bone mineral density among Indian patients with osteoporotic fracture

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder with low-bone mass causing micro-architectural deterioration and an increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures. According to a worldwide report by IOF, 1 in 3 females and 1 in 5 males will experience fractures due to the osteoporotic changes in their bones. Fractures may be the first clinical manifestation of the disease. They have been causes for morbidity and mortality imposing economic burden to osteoporosis. Bone marrow fat is a negative regulator of bone-turnover and a key integrator of bone and energy metabolism. Hence we assess the bone marrow fat and BMD in patients with osteoporotic bone fractures. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 patients from the department of orthopaedic surgery. Biopsy samples were received from excised bone during surgery. Biochemical parameters and bone marrow fat were quantified by established methods. A negative correlation between BMD versus serum adiponectin, FGF21 and similar observation with BMD versus bone marrow fat is seen. Therefore, increased bone-marrow fat and adiponectin, FGF21 levels and decreased BMD in osteoporosis. This observation might be useful for prevention, management and therapeutic potential of osteoporosis. Based on our study findings, understand the bone-fat relationship to implications with low BMD in patients with osteoporosis.