Variations in fat mass contribution to bone mineral density by gender, age, and body mass index: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008-2011

Abstract

The relationship of body composition and bone mineral density is complex and controversial. When classifying Korean population based on gender, age, and body mass index, fat mass had varying contributions to bone mineral density.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) is complex, and it is uncertain how components of body mass variably affect BMD.

METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was performed in subjects ≥20 years based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008 to 2011. Among 17,583 subjects, the mean ages were 49.1?±?16.0 years (M, n?=?7495) and 49.3?±?16.3 years (F, n?=?10,088). Subjects were divided into age groups, either <50 or ≥50 years for males, or menopausal state, either premenopausal or postmenopausal, for females. A further classification used BMI, either <25 or ≥25 kg/m(2). Anthropometric and body composition parameters were compared and evaluated to look for correlations with BMD. Further, appendicular lean mass (ALM), fat mass (FM), fat percentage (FP), and waist circumference (WC) were included for multivariate analysis with BMD, controlling for covariates in each age group and BMI subgroup.

RESULTS: Anthropometric and body composition parameters significantly correlated with BMD in all age groups for both genders. After adjusting for covariates, ALM strongly affected BMD in all age groups for both genders. FM, FP, and WC significantly affected BMD in both age groups of women and in older men, but they did not affect BMD in younger men. Fat indices positively affected BMD of all sites in all non-obese women and in non-obese older men. However, little contribution was found in obese subgroups of both genders and in non-obese younger men.

CONCLUSION: Considering different weights of covariates, ALM strongly contributed to BMD in all gender, age, and BMI groups. On the other hand, fat indices positively affected BMD of both age groups in women and older men with normal BMI, but they showed little contribution to BMD within the same age groups with high BMI or any BMI subgroups of younger men.