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Body composition trajectories during childhood predict skeletal maturation at puberty: A longitudinal study
Wen Shu1,2, Menglong Li3, Sten H Vermund4
1Department of Growth and Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.
Heliyon
|September 10, 2024
Summary
Children with higher body mass index z-score and visceral fat area z-score trajectories are more likely to experience advanced bone age. Maintaining normal visceral fat area is key for reducing this risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Nutritional status is a critical determinant of linear bone growth.
- Understanding the link between body composition and skeletal maturation is essential for pediatric health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body composition trajectories and advanced bone age in children.
- To identify specific body composition indicators that predict advanced bone age during puberty.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of body mass index z-score (BMI z-score), visceral fat area z-score (VFA z-score), fat mass index z-score (FMI z-score), and fat-free mass index z-score (FFMI z-score) in a pediatric cohort.
- Assessment of pubertal bone age using the Tanner-Whitehouse 3-Chinese Radius-Ulna-Short (TW3-C RUS) method in 1402 primary school children.
- Statistical analysis to determine the relationship between body composition trajectories and advanced bone age.
Main Results:
- Higher trajectories of BMI z-score, VFA z-score, FMI z-score, and FFMI z-score were associated with an increased likelihood of advanced bone age.
- Children consistently in the high VFA z-score group had a significantly higher risk (OR = 6.73) of advanced bone age.
- Children consistently in the high BMI z-score group also showed a higher risk (OR = 5.57) of advanced bone age.
Conclusions:
- Tracking higher body composition indicators, particularly visceral fat, from childhood increases the risk of advanced bone age at puberty.
- Regular monitoring and management of visceral fat area in children may help mitigate the risk of advanced bone age.
- BMI monitoring is a supplementary tool, especially when advanced body composition assessment tools are unavailable.
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