Short-term physical activity intervention decreases femoral bone marrow adipose tissue in young children: A pilot study

Abstract

Mechanical stimulation is necessary for maximization of geometrical properties of bone mineralization contributing to long-term strength. The amount of mineralization in bones has been reciprocally related to volume of bone marrow adipose tissue and this relationship is suggested to be an independent predictor of fracture. Physical activity represents an extrinsic factor that impacts both mineralization and marrow volume exerting permissive capacity of the growing skeleton to achieve its full genetic potential. Because geometry- and shape-determining processes primarily manifest during the linear growth period, the accelerated structural changes accompanying early childhood (ages 3 to 6 y) may have profound impact on lifelong bone health. The objective of this pilot study was to determine if a short-term physical activity intervention in young children would result in augmentation of geometric properties of bone. Three days per week the intervention group (n=10) participated in 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, such as jumping, hopping and running, and stretching activities, whereas controls (n=10) underwent usual activities during the 10-week intervention period. Femoral bone marrow adipose tissue volume and total body composition were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, respectively, at baseline and after ten weeks. Although after 10-weeks, intergroup differences were not observed, a significant decrease in femoral marrow adipose tissue volume was observed in those participating in physical activity intervention. Our findings suggest physical activity may improve bone quality via antagonistic effects on femoral bone marrow adipose tissue and possibly long-term agonistic effects on bone mineralization.

Comparison of the Relationship Between Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Volumetric Bone Mineral Density in Children and Adults

“…These findings confirm the presence of an inverse relationship between vBMD and BMAT throughout the lifespan, even during periods of bone acquisition. A recent study shows that physical activity intervention decreases femoral BMAT in young children (23), suggesting that possibility of using BMAT as a biomarker for bone quality in children.…”

Comparison among T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Modified Dixon Method, and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Measuring Bone Marrow Fat

“…The threshold for BMAT segmentation on T1-weighted MRI was set at the same level as subcutaneous adipose tissue on the grey scale. The reader first sets the threshold that best segments subcutaneous adipose tissue on the grey scale [2–4, 17–19], then that threshold is used in the same image to segment BMAT. In the SliceOmatic software package, the segmentation threshold can be freely adjusted and the analyst can view the “preview” of subcutaneous adipose tissue segmentation, which is transparently overlaid on the grey image.…”

The relationships among total body fat, bone mineral content and bone marrow adipose tissue in early-pubertal girls

“…MRI which involves no ionizing radiation is emerging as a comprehensive tool for fat quantification. For MRI, children were scanned using a Philips 3T system in the UAB Division of Cardiology 4546. A series of T1-weighted slices (allowing for rapid scans with strong fat-water tissue contrast) were acquired at the upper-leg regions with data acquisition beginning at the iliac crest and continuing to the knee (superior border of the patella).…”