clinicians. However, the limited available evidence suggests that osteoporosis treatment does reduce fracture risk in obesity and T2DM with generally similar efficacy to other patients.Keywords Bone · Obesity · Diabetes · Fat · Fracture
Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and BoneObesity is a major and growing public health problem; for example, in the UK, 40% of adults will be obese by 2025 [1]. Obesity is the most important risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and the global prevalence of T2DM is likely to be 592 million by 2035 [2]. As the population ages, the burden of osteoporosis and fragility fracture also increases. Obesity and T2DM have effects on fracture risk, and fractures in T2DM are associated with greater morbidity than in the general population. Understanding how to assess and treat fracture risk in these groups is important for health care planning and individual patients. Additionally, the study of the mechanisms of action of obesity and T2DM on bone has already offered insights that may be applicable in the broader study of osteoporosis, such as the effects of adipokines on bone cells and the effects of collagen glycation on material properties of bone. There are some similarities in the effect of obesity and T2DM on bone, but some important differences such as cortical porosity and collagen glycation.In this review, we describe the effects of obesity and T2DM on fracture risk and discuss possible mechanisms of their effects. We also consider the validity of existing fracture risk prediction tools and efficacy of osteoporosis treatment in these patient groups.
AbstractIn an increasingly obese and ageing population, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and osteoporotic fracture are major public health concerns. Understanding how obesity and type 2 diabetes modulate fracture risk is important to identify and treat people at risk of fracture. Additionally, the study of the mechanisms of action of obesity and T2DM on bone has already offered insights that may be applicable to osteoporosis in the general population. Most available evidence indicates lower risk of proximal femur and vertebral fracture in obese adults. However the risk of some fractures (proximal humerus, femur and ankle) is higher, and a significant number fractures occur in obese people. BMI is positively associated with BMD and the mechanisms of this association in vivo may include increased loading, adipokines such as leptin, and higher aromatase activity. However, some fat depots could have negative effects on bone; cytokines from visceral fat are pro-resorptive and high intramuscular fat content is associated with poorer muscle function, attenuating loading effects and increasing falls risk. T2DM is also associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD), but increased overall and hip fracture risk. There are some similarities between bone in obesity and T2DM, but T2DM seems to have additional harmful effects and emerging evidence suggests that glycation of collagen may be an important factor. Higher BMD but higher fracture risk presents challenges i...