Increased Muscle Mass May Protect Against Osteoarthritis

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An interesting association..

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 25 - Muscle mass is associated with

medial-tibial cartilage volume in healthy, middle-aged subjects, and may be

therefore be protective against osteoarthritis, according to findings

published in the February issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

" Although obesity is widely accepted as a risk factor for knee

osteoarthritis, it is not clear whether individual components of body

composition, such as the mass and distribution of muscle and fat, are

associated with development of the disease, " Dr. Flavia M. Cicuttini, of

Monash University, Australia, and colleagues write.

The researchers examined the effect of body composition on the longitudinal

change in tibial cartilage volume in healthy, middle-aged men and women.

They used dual x-ray absorptiometry to assess body composition and magnetic

resonance imaging to assess tibial cartilage volume in 86 subjects.

Muscle mass was significantly associated with the medial-tibial cartilage

volume, after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, medial-tibial bone

size, and physical activity, the investigators found.

Each knee was imaged 2 years after baseline measurement and the difference

in tibial cartilage volume was determined.

" After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, respective baseline tibial

bone area ... and current level of physical activity, reduced muscle mass

was associated with loss of tibial cartilage in the medial and lateral

compartments, " Dr. Cicuttini's team reports.

" In contrast, measures of body fat were not independently associated with

change in tibial cartilage volume, " they add.

They say further work would be needed to see if interventions " designed to

increase muscle mass may protect against the development of osteoarthritis. "

Arthritis Rheum 2005;52:461-467.