This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bakker, I. Articles by Kemper, H. C. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bakker, I. Articles by Kemper, H. C. G.

Fat-Free Body Mass Is the Most Important Body Composition Determinant of 10-yr Longitudinal Development of Lumbar Bone in Adult Men and Women

Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (I.B., J.W.R.T., W.V.M., H.C.G.K.) and Department of Social Medicine and Research Centre ‘Body@Work’ TNO VU (W.V.M.), VU University Medical Center, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Han C. G. Kemper, Professor, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO), VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: hcg.kemper.emgo{at}med.vu.nl.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the longitudinal relationship between body composition and lumbar bone mineral density (LBMD) and lumbar bone mineral content (LBMC) in (young) adults over a 10-yr period. The data are from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study. Two hundred twenty-five men and 241 women were measured at 27, 32, and/or 36 yr of age. Nine body composition components were explored: total body weight, standing height, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio, sum of four skinfolds, fat mass, and fat-free mass (FFM). Stratified analyses were performed by gender and adjustment was made for physical activity and calcium intake. Univariate multilevel analyses indicated that FFM was significantly positively related to the 10-yr development of both LBMD and LBMC in both sexes. Total body weight, standing height, and body mass index also showed a significant positive univariate relationships with LBMD and LBMC in both sexes, fat mass only with female LBMD. All best predictive multiple regression models included FFM, explaining 4–27% of the variation in bone mineral over this 10-yr period. Because FFM can be interpreted as a proxy for skeletal muscle mass, these results indicate the importance of muscle contractions on bone to increase bone strength in (young) adults.

This work was supported by grants from the Dairy Foundation on Nutrition and Health, the Dutch Heart Foundation (Grant 76051-79051), the Dutch Prevention Fund (Grants 28-189a, 28-1106, and 28-1106-1), the Dutch Ministry of Well Being and Public Health (Grant 90-170), the Dutch Olympic Committee/Netherlands Sports Federation, Heineken Inc., and the Scientific Board of Smoking and Health.

Abbreviations: AGAHLS, Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study; BMI, body mass index; DEXA, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; FFM, fat-free mass; FM, fat mass; GRF, ground reaction force; LBMC, lumbar bone mineral content; LBMD, lumbar bone mineral density.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Galusca, M. Zouch, N. Germain, C. Bossu, D. Frere, F. Lang, M.-H. Lafage-Proust, T. Thomas, L. Vico, and B. Estour Constitutional Thinness: Unusual Human Phenotype of Low Bone Quality J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2008; 93(1): 110 - 117. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Bolton, A. A. Ionescu, K. M. Shiels, R. J. Pettit, P. H. Edwards, M. D. Stone, L. S. Nixon, W. D. Evans, T. L. Griffiths, and D. J. Shale Associated Loss of Fat-free Mass and Bone Mineral Density in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 15, 2004; 170(12): 1286 - 1293. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]