Association between Body Composition Characteristics and Bone Mineral Density across Menopausal Transition Stages

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Endocrinology
• Bone Metabolism

Background:

• Bone mineral density (BMD) typically declines during the menopausal transition due to hormonal changes.
• Understanding the interplay between body composition and BMD is crucial for managing bone health in aging women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between body composition metrics and BMD across various stages of the menopausal transition.
• To identify key body composition factors that predict BMD in women aged 45-60 years.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 320 rural women aged 45-60 years.
• Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) used to assess body composition and BMD at multiple skeletal sites.
• Statistical analyses including Tukey post hoc tests and multiple linear regression.

Main Results:

• BMD and bone mineral content significantly decreased across menopausal transition stages at the hip, lumbar spine, and arm.
• Weight and lean mass showed a strong positive association with BMD at all measured sites.
• % Total body fat (%TBF) was negatively associated with BMD, except for lumbar BMD in late postmenopause.
• Waist circumference was significantly associated with BMD in the late postmenopausal stage.

Conclusions:

• Weight and lean mass are significant positive predictors of BMD during and after menopause.
• % Total body fat (%TBF) may serve as a negative indicator for bone mineral density.
• Body composition assessment is vital for evaluating bone health risk in women undergoing menopausal transition.