REVIEW - Correlation of obesity and osteoporosis: effect of fat mass on the determination of osteoporosis

[Guest guest]

J Bone Miner Res. 2008 Jan;23(1):17-29.

Correlation of obesity and osteoporosis: effect of fat mass on the

determination of osteoporosis.

Zhao LJ, Jiang H, Papasian CJ, Maulik D, Drees B, Hamilton J, Deng HW.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of

Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

It was previously believed that obesity and osteoporosis were two

unrelated diseases, but recent studies have shown that both diseases

share several common genetic and environmental factors. Body fat mass,

a component of body weight, is one of the most important indices of

obesity, and a substantial body of evidence indicates that fat mass

may have beneficial effects on bone. Contrasting studies, however,

suggest that excessive fat mass may not protect against osteoporosis

or osteoporotic fracture. Differences in experimental design, sample

structure, and even the selection of covariates may account for some

of these inconsistent or contradictory results. Despite the lack of a

clear consensus regarding the impact of effects of fat on bone, a

number of mechanistic explanations have been proposed to support the

observed epidemiologic and physiologic associations between fat and

bone. The common precursor stem cell that leads to the differentiation

of both adipocytes and osteoblasts, as well the secretion of

adipocyte-derived hormones that affect bone development, may partially

explain these associations. Based on our current state of knowledge,

it is unclear whether fat has beneficial effects on bone. We

anticipate that this will be an active and fruitful focus of research

in the coming years.

PMID: 17784844

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17784844

Not an MD