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. 2010 Feb;95(2):699-706.
doi: 10.1210/jc.2009-1907. Epub 2009 Dec 11.

Fat mass exerts a greater effect on cortical bone mass in girls than boys

Adrian Sayers  1 , Jonathan H Tobias
Affiliations

Fat mass exerts a greater effect on cortical bone mass in girls than boys

Adrian Sayers et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Feb.

Abstract

Context: It is unclear whether fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM) differ in the way they influence cortical bone development in boys and girls.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the contributions of total body FM and LM to parameters related to cortical bone mass and geometry.

Design/setting: We conducted a longitudinal birth cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Participants: A total of 4005 boys and girls (mean age, 15.5 yr) participated in the study.

Outcome measures: We measured cortical bone mass, cortical bone mineral content (BMC(C)), cortical bone mineral density, periosteal circumference (PC), and endosteal circumference by tibial peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

Results: LM had a similar positive association with BMC(C) in boys and girls [regression coefficients with 95% confidence interval (CI); P for gender interactions: boys/girls, 0.952 (0.908, 0.997); P = 0.85]. However, the mechanisms by which LM influenced bone mass differed according to gender because LM was positively associated with PC more strongly in girls [boys, 0.579 (0.522, 0.635); girls, 0.799 (0.722, 0.875); P < 0.0001], but was only associated with cortical bone mineral density in boys [boys, 0.443 (0.382, 0.505); girls, 0.014 (-0.070, 0.097); P < 0.0001]. There was a stronger positive association between FM and BMC(C) in girls [boys, 0.227 (0.185, 0.269); girls, 0.355 (0.319, 0.392); P < 0.0001]. This reflected both a greater positive association of FM with PC in girls [boys, 0.213 (0.174, 0.253); girls, 0.312 (0.278, 0.347); P = 0.0002], and a stronger negative association with endosteal circumference(PC) [boys, -0.059 (-0.096, 0.021); girls, -0.181 (-0.215, -0.146); P < 0.0001].

Conclusions: Whereas LM stimulates the accrual of cortical bone mass to a similar extent in boys and girls, FM is a stronger stimulus for accrual of cortical bone mass in girls, reflecting a greater tendency in females for FM to stimulate periosteal growth and suppress endosteal expansion.

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Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Pathway coefficients for the effects of LM (A) and FM (B) on BMCC via PC, EC adjusted for PC, and BMDC in boys and girls. The sum of these pathways, representing the overall influence of LM or FM on BMCC is shown at the bottom. Line thickness depicts overall effect size.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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