Relationship between bone mineral density and biochemical parameters in obese children and adolescents

<bold>BACKGROUND</bold>: The aim of this study was to measure bone mineral density (BMD) using dual-energy X-Ray absorp-tiometry and to compare BMD-associated biochemical markers and evaluate their correlations with severity of obesity.<bold>METHODS</bold>: Overall, 102 obese children and adolescents were included to the study. The subjects were stratified into 2 groups according to severity of obesity as determined by BMI (Body Mass Index): obese group and severe obese group. For all subjects, data regarding height, weight, BMI and levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25-OH vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and HbA1c were extracted from patient charts. The BMD was measured using dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry. The BMD Z-scores were calculated using race-and gender-specific curves.<bold>RESULTS</bold>: The mean BMD Z-scores were within normal range in obese and severe obese groups with no significant difference between groups. The bone density was found to be >-2.0 Z-score in all subjects. However, when subjects were stratified according to BMD Z-scores as those with BMD Z-score of-2.0-0 and those with >0, it was found that BMI was significantly correlated with BMD Z-score. In BMD Z-score discrimination, it was found that vitamin 25-OHD also showed significant difference. Among dyslipidemia parameters, a significant, positive correlation was detected between LDL-cholesterol and BMD Z-score in the group with BMD Z-score >0. A significant negative correlation was detected between BMD Z-score and HOMA-IR and HbA1c in the group with BMD Z-score <0<bold>CONCLUSIONS</bold>: In our study, it was found that glucose as well as some lipid metabolism markers could have significant association with BMD in obese children. Although BMI was associated with BMD in obese children with BMD Z-score >0, there was no such association in those with BMD Z-score <0. (Cite this article as: Bala MM, Bala KA, Peker G, Unsal SS, Giirler M. Relationship between bone mineral density and biochemical parameters in obese children and adolescents. Gazz Med Ital -Arch Sci Med 2022;181:315-23. DOI: 10.23736/ S0393-3660.20.04522-2)