An Investigation into the Relationship Between Soft Tissue Body Composition and Bone Mineral Density in a Young Adult Twin Sample
2011

Body Composition and Bone Density in Young Adults

Sample size: 301 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Bogl Leonie H, Latvala Antti, Kaprio Jaakko, Sovijärvi Olli, Rissanen Aila, Pietiläinen Kirsi H

Primary Institution: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki

Hypothesis

The study investigates the relationship between fat mass and lean mass with bone mineral density independent of genetic effects.

Conclusion

The study concludes that peak bone mineral density is influenced by both body weight and genetic factors, with lean mass being a stronger predictor of bone density than fat mass.

Supporting Evidence

  • Lean mass was a significantly stronger predictor of whole-body bone mineral density than fat mass.
  • Additive genetic factors explained 87% of the variation in whole-body bone mineral density.
  • Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Takeaway

This study shows that how much muscle and fat you have can affect your bone strength, and it's important to have more muscle for better bones.

Methodology

Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 57 monozygotic and 92 dizygotic twin pairs.

Potential Biases

Potential confounding factors include diet, physical activity, and socioeconomic status.

Limitations

The study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to generalize findings to other age groups or ethnicities.

Participant Demographics

The sample consisted of 154 men and 147 women aged 23 to 31 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.01

Confidence Interval

95% CI 80%–91%

Statistical Significance

p<0.01

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/jbmr.192

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication