Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Sex- and Age-Specific Associations Between Visceral Fat-to-Muscle Ratio and Bone Mineral Density in Children and
Fang Jin1, Pengzheng Yu1, Zhongxin Zhu1
1Department of Osteoporosis Care and Control, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, 311200, Zhejiang, China.
Background:
Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for skeletal development, yet the sex- and age-specific relationships between body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) remain inadequately explored.
Methods:
This study analyzed data from 6328 participants aged 8-19 years from the NHANES (2011-2018) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to assess visceral adipose tissue area (VATA), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and total BMD. Multivariate linear regression models were employed to examine the associations, accounting for potential confounders.
Results:
Initial analyses indicated a positive correlation between VATA and BMD, which reversed after covariate adjustment. SMM consistently showed positive correlations with BMD, particularly in girls aged 8-11 years. The visceral adipose tissue to SMM ratio exhibited significant negative correlations with BMD, especially in boys aged 12-19 years.
Conclusions:
These findings highlight the critical importance of balanced body composition for skeletal health during development, suggesting that targeted interventions to optimize muscle mass and reduce visceral fat may enhance bone density in children and adolescents.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
01:27Signs of Puberty
01:17Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
01:20Introduction to the Skeletal System
Components of the Skeletal System
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a hard connective tissue that forms an internal support structure for the human body. Bones shield vulnerable organs and soft tissue from external forces. For example, the vertebral bones protect and support the spinal cord.
Cartilage, a semi-rigid connective tissue found in regions such as...
01:19Body Water Content and Fluid Compartments