[The levels of bone mineralization are influenced by body composition in children and adolescents]

Abstract

Introduction: There is controversy over the effect of overweight and obesity in bone mineralization in adolescence.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the level of bone mineral density (BMD) in a population of adolescents and study its relationship with body composition.

Methods: The study population consisted of 157 adolescents (93 women and 64 men) of the province of Granada (Spain). The mean age was 14.22 ± 1.41 year. BMD was assessed by calcaneal osteosonography. The densitometric parameters were: Broadbandultrasound attenuation( BUA), T -score and Z -score. Body composition was determined with bio-electrical Impedance analyser.

Results: The overweight and obese adolescents had higher values in the BUA versus normal-weighted adolescents (95.4 ± 17.77 and 90.0 ± 1.08 vs 81.1 ± 17.79), showing significant differences(p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Even after adjustment for lean mass and fat mass, differences remained in overweight and obese subjects (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Correlation with lean mass was greater than with fat mass (B =, 402 p < 0.000 and B =, 228 p < 0.002).

Conclusions: Adolescents with overweight and/or obesity have higher levels of BMD even after adjustment for fat mass and muscle mass. Our results suggest that BMD increases in response to increased muscle mass in adolescents with overweight and/or obesity.