Bone Health and Its Positive Relationships with Body Composition in Malaysian Schoolchildren: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study

The relationship between obesity and bone mineral density in children and adolescents: analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Childhood and puberty are important period for the skeleton grows. Fat mass, especially visceral adipose tissue, was negatively correlated with areal bone mineral density in children and adolescents. The present study suggests that fat mass, especially visceral adipose tissue, has a slightly negative association with bone development in children and adolescents.

PURPOSE

This study observed the relationship between fat mass and distribution, and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in children and adolescents.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on US children and adolescents aged 8-19 years. Whole body (less head) aBMD was evaluated. Height (Ht) adjusted Z-scores for aBMD were calculated.

RESULTS

After controlling for age, gender, race, and lean body mass index (LBMI) Z-score, there were significant negative associations between fat mass index (FMI) Z-score and aBMD Ht-Z-adjusted Z-score (β =  - 0.272, P < 0.001, R2 = 0.033). In the linear regression models with aBMD Ht-Z-adjusted Z-score as the dependent variable, the regression coefficients of android fat mass were - 0.241 (P < 0.05, R2 = 0.002), - 0.473 (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.036), and - 0.474 (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.038) for healthy weight, overweight, and obesity group, respectively. The regression coefficients of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass were - 0.218 (P > 0.05, R2 = 0.001), - 2.025 (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.044), and - 1.826 (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.039), and the regression coefficients of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) mass were - 0.467 (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.004), - 0.339 (P < 0.01, R2 = 0.024), and - 0.347 (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.018) for healthy weight, overweight, and obesity group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that fat mass has a slightly negative association with bone development in children and adolescents. Trunk fat accumulation, especially visceral adipose tissue, was correlated with the lower level of aBMD. This association was obvious in overweight and obese children.

The relationship between metabolic syndrome and bone mineral density in adolescents: analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to observe the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and height (Ht) adjusted Z-scores for areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in adolescents.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on the United States adolescents aged 12-17 years. Data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012, 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 cycles. Ht adjusted Z-scores for aBMD were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 969 adolescents (493 boys and 476 girls), aged 14.5 ± 1.7 years were enrolled in this study. After control for age, gender, race, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and lean body mass index (LBMI) Z-score, adolescents with MetS had significantly lower levels of total body (less head) aBMD Ht-Z-adjusted Z-score than adolescents with one, two components of MetS and without component of MetS (p<0.05) and significantly lower levels of lumbar spine aBMD Ht-Z-adjusted Z-score than adolescents with one component of MetS and without component of MetS (p<0.05). There were significantly negative associations between total body (less head) aBMD Ht-Z-adjusted Z-score and waist circumference (WC) (β=-0.027, p<0.001, R²=0.057) and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (β=-0.225, p<0.001, R²=0.016). There were significantly negative associations between lumbar spine aBMD Ht-Z-adjusted Z-score and WC (β=-0.039, p<0.001, R²=0.058) and HOMA-IR (β=-0.251, p<0.001, R²=0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates that MetS may have a negative effect on bone mineral density in adolescents. Abdominal obesity and insulin resistance play a major role on the decline of aBMD in adolescents.

Prevalence of lactose intolerance and malabsorption among children of two ethnic groups from the urban areas of Malaysia and its relation to calcium intake and bone health status

Lactase insufficiency could develop into lactose intolerance (LI) and disrupt the intake of calcium, which is a core nutrient for bone development in children. However, data regarding the prevalence of LI and bone health status (BHS) among Malaysian children are scarcely reported.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of LI and lactose malabsorption (LM) in Malay and Chinese children and examine its relationship with calcium intake (CI) and BHS.

METHODS

A total of 400 children participated in this study. The prevalence of lactose tolerance (LT) was assessed using hydrogen breath test, LT test, and visual analogue scales. Assessment of CI was performed using a 24-h dietary recall interview (24-h DR) and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) was measured using a quantitative ultrasonometer.

RESULTS

The prevalence of LI among Chinese children (37%) was significantly higher (p = 0.002) than among Malay children (22.5%). However, 61.5% of Malay and 54.5% of Chinese children were found to have LM. CI of the children fulfilled 30.5% and 33.9% of the Malaysian recommended CI (1300 mg/day) for 24-h DR and FFQ, respectively. The BUA score of Malay children was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of Chinese children. However, LT and CI were not correlated with BHS (p > 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

LI was diagnosed among Malay and Chinese children. However, the higher prevalence of LM is rather worrying as it could develop to LI. The prevalence possibly has been worsened by insufficient CI. Thus, effective approaches to increase CI are highly needed as bone development occurs rapidly at this age and is important for the attainment of the optimum peak bone mass during late adolescence.