Physical activity, a mediator of the relationship between weight status and bone physiology?

Le but de ce travail était de déterminer les effets de la pratique d'activité physique sur le phénotype osseux et l'adiposité médullaire en cas d'insuffisance pondérale selon deux approches complémentaires, chez l'humain et chez les souris. La première étude a été menée sur 24 femmes normo-pondérées et 13 femmes en sous-poids âgées entre 20 et 35 ans. Cette étude a montré que les femmes en sous-poids présentent une faible masse osseuse au niveau du corps entier, rachis lombaire et col fémoral et une altération de la géométrie du col fémoral par rapport aux femmes normo-pondérées, et un score de l'os trabéculaire sur la limite inférieure de la normale. La VO₂ₘₐₓ (L/min) était parmi les principaux déterminants des paramètres osseux chez les jeunes femmes quel que soit leur indice de masse corporelle. Les résultats de cette première étude suggèrent que l'augmentation de la VO₂ₘₐₓ (L/min) sont essentiels pour prévenir la perte osseuse chez les jeunes femmes en sous-poids. La deuxième étude a été menée sur des souris femelles jeunes adultes soumises à un exercice physique volontaire dans une roue combinée à une restriction alimentaire (restriction de 50% de l'apport ad libitum) pendant 15 et 55 jours. Cette étude a démontré que la perte pondérale liée à la restriction alimentaire présente des répercussions négatives sur l'os cortical avec peu d'effets néfastes sur l'os trabéculaire et est associée à une augmentation du nombre des adipocytes médullaires dès 15 jours de restriction. Cette étude a également démontré que l'exercice physique volontaire dans une roue ne protège pas contre les modifications de l'architecture osseuse et l'accumulation de l'adiposité médullaire liées à la restriction alimentaire. Parce que la ghréline est apparue comme régulateur potentiel de l'adiposité médullaire, la troisième étude a été menée sur des souris femelles jeunes adultes dépourvues du récepteur de la ghréline (Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor, Ghsr-/-) soumises à une restriction alimentaire (restriction de 50% de l'apport ad libitum) combinée à un exercice physique volontaire dans une roue de 21 jours. Cette étude a démontré que la ghréline est un médiateur clé de l'expansion de l'adiposité médullaire associée à la restriction alimentaire suite à l'activation du GHSR et que la restriction alimentaire est nécessaire pour révéler certaines différences dans la microarchitecture osseuse associée à l'invalidation du GHSR.The aim of this work was to determine the effects of physical activity on bone phenotype and bone marrow adiposity in underweight conditions using two complementary approaches, on human and on mice. The first study was conducted on 24 normal weight women and 13 underweight women aged 20-35 years. This study showed that underweight women have appropriately lower bone mass at the whole body, lumbar spine and femoral neck and altered femoral neck geometry compared to normal weight women, and a trabecular bone score on the lower limit of normal. VO₂ₘₐₓ (L/min) was considered as strong determinant of bone parameters in young adult women regardless of their body mass index. The results of this first study suggest that increasing VO₂ₘₐₓ (L/min) is essential to prevent bone loss in underweight young women. The second study was conducted on young adult female mice subjected to voluntary wheel running and food restriction (50% of ad libitum intake) during 15 and 55 days. This study demonstrated that weight loss related to food restriction has a negative impact on cortical bone with few adverse effects on trabecular bone and is associated with an increase in the number of bone marrow adipocytes already after 15 days of restriction. This study also showed that voluntary wheel running exercise does not protect against changes in bone architecture and accumulation of bone marrow adiposity related to food restriction. Because ghrelin appeared as a potential regulator of bone marrow adiposity, the third study was conducted on young adult mice lacking the ghrelin receptor (Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor, Ghsr-/-) subjected to voluntary wheel running and food restriction (50% of ad libitum intake) during 21 days. This study demonstrated that ghrelin is a key mediator of food restriction - associated bone marrow adiposity expansion through activation of GHSR and that food restriction is necessary to reveal some differences in bone microarchitecture associated to GHSR invalidation

Increased bone marrow adiposity in a context of energy deficit: the tip of the iceberg?

Elevated bone marrow adiposity is defined as an increase in the proportion of the bone marrow cavity volume occupied by adipocytes. This can be caused by an increase in the size and/or number of adipocytes. Bone marrow adiposity increases with age in a bone-site-specific manner. This increase may be linked to certain pathophysiological situations. Osteoporosis or compromised bone quality is frequently associated with high bone marrow adiposity. The involvement of bone marrow adipocytes in bone loss may be due to commitment of mesenchymal stem cells to the adipogenic pathway rather than the osteogenic pathway. However, adipocytes may also act on their microenvironment by secreting factors with harmful effects for the bone health. Here, we review evidence that in a context of energy deficit (such as anorexia nervosa and restriction rodent models) bone alterations can occur in the absence of an increase in bone marrow adiposity. In severe cases, bone alterations are even associated with gelatinous bone marrow transformation. The relationship between bone marrow adiposity and energy deficit, and the potential regulators of this adiposity in this context are also discussed. On the basis of clinical studies and preliminary results on animal model we propose that competition between differentiation into osteoblasts and differentiation into adipocytes might trigger bone loss at least in moderate-to severe anorexia nervosa and in some calorie restriction models. Finally, some of the main questions resulting from this hypothesis are discussed

Effects of different levels of weightlifting training on bone mineral density in a group of adolescents

International audienceThe aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of weightlifting training on bone mineral density (BMD) at different body sites (whole body (WB), lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), upper limbs (UL) and lower limbs (LL)) in a group of adolescents. Three groups of pubertal boys aged 13-15 years were recruited, including a control group (which included 13 untrained adolescents), a moderately trained group (which included 13 non-elite weightlifters, with four sessions of 2 hours per week) and a highly trained group (which included 13 elite weightlifters, with eight sessions of 2 hours per week). The three groups were paired for age and maturation index (using Tanner stages). Body composition, bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD were evaluated by dual-energy X ray absorptiometry (DXA). Physical performance variables (including weightlifting specific exercises, counter movement jump and squat jump) were measured using validated methods. Results showed that the values of BMD and physical performance variables were greater in the group of elite weightlifters compared to the group of non-elite weightlifters and the control group. In addition, the values of BMD and physical performance variables were higher in the group of the non-elite weightlifters compared to those of the control group. After adjusting for lean mass and squat jump, lumbar spine BMD, FN BMD, UL BMD and LL BMD remained significantly higher in the elite weightlifters’ group compared to the two other groups. In conclusion, the current study suggests that elite adolescent weightlifters have greater bone health parameters compared to moderately-trained adolescent weightlifters and untrained adolescents

Physical Performance Variables and Bone Parameters in a Group of Young Overweight and Obese Women

International audienceThe aim of this study was to explore the relationships between physical performance variables and bone parameters such as bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content, hip geometry indices, and trabecular bone score in a group of young overweight and obese adult women. Sixty-eight overweight/obese (body mass index ≥25 kg/m; 25.5-42.4 kg/m) young women whose ages range from 18 to 35 yr participated in this study. Body composition and bone outcomes were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO max, in liter per minute) was determined indirectly using a progressive shuttle run test. One-repetition-maximum half-squat was directly measured. Vertical jump was measured and maximum power (P max) of the lower limbs was calculated. Lean mass was positively correlated to whole body (WB) BMD, total hip BMD, femoral neck (FN) BMD, femoral neck cross-sectional area (FN CSA) and femoral neck cross sectional moment of inertia (FN CSMI) (p < 0.05). VO max (in liter per minute) and muscle power were positively correlated to WB BMD, total hip BMD, FN BMD, FN CSA, and FN CSMI (p < 0.05). One-repetition-maximum half-squat was positively correlated with lumbar spine trabecular bone score, WB BMD, FN BMD, FN CSA and FN CSMI (p < 0.05). This study suggests that lean mass, vertical jump, VO max (liter per minute), muscle power and one-repetition-maximum half squat are positive determinants of BMD and hip geometry indices in young overweight and obese women

Vitamin D and Trabecular Bone Score in a Group of Young Lebanese Adults

International audienceThe relationship between vitamin D and trabecular bone score (TBS) in young adults remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] serum levels and TBS in a healthy adult population. A total of 54 men and 61 women whose ages range from 18 to 35 participated in the present study. Participants with 25(OH)D insufficiency (between 21 and 29 ng/mL) were 55.7%, and those with 25(OH)D deficiency (≤20 ng/mL) were 11.4%. TBS positively correlated with 25(OH)D in men (r = 0.393; p <0.05) and women (r = 0.324; p < 0.05). In both genders, TBS was significantly higher in 25(OH)D-sufficient participants (≥30 ng/mL). The present study provides evidence that vitamin D positively affects bone health and suggests that maintaining adequate vitamin D status may be essential for optimal TBS values

Positive Correlations Between Free Vitamin D and Bone Variables in a Group of Young Lebanese Women

International audienceOptimizing bone mass in adulthood is of great importance to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis in later age. Vitamin D is an essential component of bone health. Low-serum vitamin D is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD), which is an important predictor of fracture risk. However, most cells, apart from renal tubular cells, are exposed to free rather than to total 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Whether free vitamin D would be a better marker than total vitamin D is still under debate. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationships between serum total vitamin D, vitamin D-binding protein (BP), free vitamin D, and bone parameters in a group of young Lebanese women. This study included 88 young female adults aged between 18 and 35 yr. Body composition and BMD were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the lumbar spine trabecular bone score was derived. Bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD were measured at the whole body (WB), the lumbar spine (L1-L4), the total hip (TH), and the femoral neck (FN). To evaluate hip bone geometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans were analyzed at the FN, the intertrochanteric region, and the femoral shaft by the Hip Structure Analysis program. The cross-sectional area, the index of axial compression strength, and the section modulus (Z), as well as index of bending strength, were measured from bone mass profiles. Composite indices of FN strength (compressive strength index [CSI], bending strength index, and impact strength index [ISI]) were calculated as previously described. Direct measurement of free 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations was performed by immunoassay, which detects free vitamin D by ELISA on a microtiter plate. Serum vitamin D BP was measured using a Quantikine ELISA kit, which employed the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. Serum free vitamin D was positively correlated with WB BMC (r = 0.26, p < 0.05), WB BMD (r = 0.29, p < 0.05), L1-L4 BMD (r = 0.28, p < 0.05), TH BMD (r = 0.34, p < 0.01), FN BMD (r = 0.29, p < 0.05), CSI (r = 0.24, p < 0.05), and ISI (r = 0.28, p < 0.05). No positive correlations were detected between the total vitamin D level, the vitamin D BPs, and BMD. The positive associations between free vitamin D and several bone variables (WB BMC, WB BMD, L1-L4 BMD, TH BMD, FN BMD, CSI, bending strength index, and ISI) remained significant after adjustment for weight. In conclusion, the current study suggests that the free vitamin D serum level is a stronger positive determinant of bone parameters and hip bone strength indices in young female adults than total serum vitamin D