Adipocytokine imbalance and bone mineral properties in Hispanic youth

Childhood obesity may have a negative impact on bone mineral properties, with unclear underlying mechanisms. We investigated the relationship of adipocytokine imbalance to bone mineral properties in adolescence, and sex related differences.

A cohort of 501 pubertal Hispanic youth (47% male), 10-19 years of age underwent assessment of body composition, bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) by DXA; fasting glucose, insulin, estradiol, testosterone, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations. HOMA-IR and leptin to adiponectin ratio (LAR) were calculated. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) as reflected by VO₂ max was measured using a treadmill ramp protocol.

LAR was higher in youth with obesity and with overweight compared with normal weight. LAR negatively contributed to the variance in BMC (β = -0.096, p = 0.001) (R² = 0.887, p < 0.001) together and independently of HOMA-IR, sex steroids, and CRF. This relationship persisted in males but weakened in females when the 2 sexes were examined separately. Similar findings were seen with BMD as the dependent variable.

LAR has a negative relationship with BMC and BMD in pubertal youth, with a more notable adverse relationship in males. This suggests that adipocytokine dysregulation may contribute to the adverse effects of childhood obesity on bone mineral properties, with sex-differences related to body fat topography.

Childhood obesity associated adipokine imbalance, as reflected by leptin to adiponectin ratio, has a negative relationship with bone mineral content and density in adolescence. This adverse relationship is more notable in males compared with females. These findings contribute to our understanding of the complex effects of obesity on bone mineral content and density in children and adolescents. The findings emphasize the importance of prevention and management of youth-onset obesity to prevent metabolic complications and their impact on skeletal health.