Association of lean tissue and fat mass with bone mineral content in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES

There has been uncertainty in the adult body composition literature about whether fat mass (FM) or fat free mass is a better predictor of bone mineral content and bone mineral density. This issue has recently also been raised in the pediatric literature. Based on suggested skeletal muscle-bone relationships, this study tested the hypothesis that in children and adolescents lean tissue mass (LTM) is a better predictor of total bone mineral content (TBMC) than is FM.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Subjects were 133 Italian children and adolescents, 5 to 17 years of age, undergoing a routine medical screen. FM (kilograms), LTM (kilograms), and TBMC (kilograms) were measured by DXA. Multiple regression analyses tested the independent association of FM and LTM with bone mineral content.

RESULTS

Regression analyses, adjusting for pubertal status and other covariates, showed that FM and LTM were independently associated with TBMC. These associations were similar for boys and girls. TBMC was more strongly associated with LTM than FM.

DISCUSSION

These observations support the hypothesis that in children and adolescents a close association exists between LTM, a measure of skeletal muscle, and skeletal characteristics.