Research article summary (published 24 Aug 2009):

Overweight children have a greater proportion of fat mass relative to muscle mass in the upper limbs than in the lower limbs: implications for bone strength at the distal forearm.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: The influence of adiposity on upper-limb bone strength has rarely been studied in children, despite the high incidence of forearm fractures in this population. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare the influence of muscle and fat tissues on bone strength between the upper and lower limbs in prepubertal children. DESIGN: Bone mineral content, total bone cross-sectional area, cortical bone area (CoA), cortical thickness (CoTh) at the radius and tibia (4% and 66%, respectively), trabecular density (TrD), bone strength index (4% sites), cortical density (CoD), stress-strain index, and muscle and fat areas (66% sites) were measured by using peripheral quantitative computed tomography in 427 children (206 boys) aged 7-10 y. RESULTS: Overweight children (n = 93) had greater values for bone variables (0.3-1.3 SD; P < 0.0001) than did their normal-weight peers, except for CoD 66% and CoTh 4%. The between-group differences were 21-87% greater at the tibia than at the radius. After adjustment for muscle cross-sectional area, TrD 4%, bone mineral content, CoA, and CoTh 66% at the tibia remained greater in overweight children, whereas at the distal radius total bone cross-sectional area and CoTh were smaller in overweight children (P < 0.05). Overweight children had a greater fat-muscle ratio than did normal-weight children, particularly in the forearm (92 +/- 28% compared with 57 +/- 17%). Fat-muscle ratio correlated negatively with all bone variables, except for TrD and CoD, after adjustment for body weight (r = -0.17 to -0.54; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Overweight children had stronger bones than did their normal-weight peers, largely because of greater muscle size. However, the overweight children had a high proportion of fat relative to muscle in the forearm, which is associated with reduced bone strength.

Author information

Author/s: Ducher, Gaele (G); Bass, Shona L (SL); Naughton, Geraldine A (GA); Eser, Prisca (P); Telford, Richard D (RD); Daly, Robin M (RM);

Affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. gaele.ducher(-atsign-)deakin.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 90 (issue 4) : pp 1104-11

Dates: Created 2009/09/21; Completed 2009/10/09;

PMID: 19710192, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/9/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adiposity Bone Density Child Female Forearm - physiopathology Humans Lower Extremity - physiopathology Male

Male Mechanical Phenomena Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology Overweight - physiopathology Radius - physiopathology Tibia - physiopathology Tomography, X-Ray Computed Upper Extremity - physiopathology

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