RESEARCH - Body composition and knee cartilage properties in healthy, community-based adults

[Guest guest]

Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online First: 29 January 2007.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extended Report

Body composition and knee cartilage properties in healthy, community-based

adults

Yuanyuan Wang 1, Anita E Wluka 1, Dallas R English 2, f Teichtahl

1, Graham G Giles 2, O'Sullivan 3 and Flavia M. Cicuttini 4*

1 Monash University, Australia

2 The Cancer Council of , Australia

3 Epworth Hospital, Australia

4 Alfred Hospital, Australia

Abstract

Objective: Although obesity is widely accepted as a risk factor for knee

osteoarthritis, whether weight per se or the specific components of body

composition are the major determinants of articular knee cartilage

properties is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the associations

between anthropometric and body composition measures and knee cartilage

properties in healthy adults.

Methods: 297 healthy adults with no clinical knee osteoarthritis were

recruited from an existing community- based cohort. Anthropometric measures

and body composition including fat-free mass and fat mass assessed using

bioelectrical impedance analysis, were measured at baseline (1990-4) and

current follow-up (2003-4). Tibial cartilage volume and tibiofemoral

cartilage defects were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging at

follow-up.

Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, baseline and current

fat-free mass, independent of fat mass, were positively associated with

tibial cartilage volume (all P < 0.001). Increase in fat- free mass over the

time period was positively associated with tibial cartilage volume (P <

0.001). Current fat mass was negatively associated with tibial cartilage

volume (P = 0.004). Baseline and current fat mass were weakly associated

with increased tibiofemoral cartilage defects (P = 0.06 and P = 0.07,

respectively), independent of fat-free mass.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest a beneficial effect of fat-free mass, but a

deleterious effect of fat mass on knee cartilage properties in healthy

adults. This suggests that weight-loss programs aimed at reducing fat mass

but maintaining muscle mass may be important in preventing the onset and/or

progression of knee osteoarthritis.

http://ard.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/ard.2006.064352v1?papetoc

Not an MD