The relation between visceral and subcutaneous fat to bone mass among Egyptian children and adolescents

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The relation between fat distribution and bone mass is still being debated in children and adolescents. AIM: To verify the influence of both visceral and subcutaneous fat on bone mass among Egyptian children and adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study involved 78 (38 boys and 40 girls) individuals from children (42) and adolescents (36), aged 8-17 years. They were divided into 2 age groups: children group (20 boys and 22 girls) aged 8-12 years and adolescent group (18 boys and 18 girls) aged 13-17 years. Anthropometric measurements, visceral and subcutaneous fat (measured by ultrasound), body composition, BMD and BMC (Measured by DXA), were attempted. RESULTS: Among children, significant positive correlations between visceral fat; in males; and subcutaneous fat; in females; with total BMC, BMD and its Z-score were revealed. After exclusion of age effect, the association between visceral fat in females with total BMD and its Z-score and lumbar BMD-Z-score became significant. For adolescents, no correlation was observed between either visceral or subcutaneous fat with any parameter of bone mass. CONCLUSIONS: Visceral and subcutaneous fat had significant positive association with bone mass in children; males and females respectively. On the contrary such association disappeared during adolescence.