Bone Marrow Fat Is Inversely Related to Cortical Bone in Young and Old Subjects

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 96; no. 3; pp. 782 - 786
• Main Authors: Wren, Tishya A. L., Chung, Sandra A., Dorey, Frederick J., Bluml, Stefan, Adams, Gregor B., Gilsanz, Vicente
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Oxford University Press 01.03.2011; Copyright by The Endocrine Society; Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - physiology; Adiposity - physiology; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aging - metabolism; Anthropometry; Biological and medical sciences; Body Height; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Bone growth; Bone imaging; Bone marrow; Bone Marrow - metabolism; Cortical bone; Diaphyses - metabolism; Endocrinopathies; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Femur - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Linear Models; Lipid Metabolism - physiology; Long bone; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Osteogenesis; Osteoporosis; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Young Adult; Human; Obesity; Nutrition; Nutrition disorder; Fat; Bone marrow; Metabolic diseases; Endocrinology; Nutritional status; Cortical bone
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-1922

Objective:Recent studies suggest a close local link between bone marrow adiposity and endosteal bone formation. Using magnetic resonance imaging, we examined whether the relation between the amount of marrow fat and cortical bone is present at multiple sites along the diaphyses of the long bones of young and old males and females.Design:The relations between values for cortical bone area and percent marrow fat in each 5-mm section along the midthird of both femoral shafts were determined using magnetic resonance imaging in eight healthy young (aged <25 yr), and nine healthy old (aged >55 yr) men and women.Results:Strong inverse correlations were observed between values for cortical bone area and percent marrow fat along the shafts of all 34 femurs; r values between −0.54 to −0.97; all P values = 0.01–0.0001. The strength of this local association was comparable in the young and the elderly and in males and females.Conclusion:Our results underscore the strength of the local connections between bone and marrow adiposity. Increasing our understanding of the mechanism for this association could lead to better diagnosis and treatment approaches for osteoporosis.