Age- and BMI-related variations of fat distribution in sacral and lumbar bone marrow and their association with local muscle fat content

Abstract

this analysis investigated the age-and BMi-related variations of fat distribution in sacral and lumbar bone marrow and their association with local muscle fat content in order to detect fat distribution patterns and variations in healthy adults using proton density fat fraction (pDff) measurements. A six-echo 3D spoiled gradient-echo sequence was used for chemical shift encoding-based waterfat separation at the sacral and lower lumbar region in 103 healthy volunteers. PDFF values of the sacrum, 5 th lumbar vertebral body, the gluteal and paraspinal muscles were determined. correlation with age was significant (p < 0.05) for PDFF of the sacrum (men (m): r = 0.58; women (w): r = 0.54), L5 (m: r = 0.58; w: r = 0.54), the gluteal (m: r = 0.51; w: r = 0.44) and paraspinal (m: r = 0.36; w: r = 0.49) muscles in both genders. BMI correlated significantly with the paraspinal musculature in men (r = 0.46) and women (r = 0.33). Correlation testing revealed significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the two osseous (m: r = 0.63, w: r = 0.75) and the muscle compartments (m: r = 0.63, w: r = 0.33) in both genders. Bone marrow and muscle fat infiltration patterns were not significantly associated with each other at the sacral and lower lumbar spine region. the presented data suggest that the two compartments may have distinct pathophysiological fat infiltration patterns. However, further clinical studies are needed to support the results.

Association of lumbar vertebral bone marrow and paraspinal muscle fat composition with intervertebral disc degeneration: 3T quantitative MRI findings from the population-based KORA study

“…The paraspinal muscles are spatially and functionally connected to the vertebral column and are of major importance for spine stability [29]. Despite this close relationship, only two studies assessed the association between vertebral bone marrow and paraspinal muscle composition using quantitative MRI [30,31]. While Burian et al found no significant association between bone marrow and muscle fat composition at the lumbosacral junction, Sollmann et al reported a significant correlation of paraspinal muscle PDFF and vertebral body PDFF in postmenopausal women in a small female-only cohort [30,31].…”

“…Despite this close relationship, only two studies assessed the association between vertebral bone marrow and paraspinal muscle composition using quantitative MRI [30,31]. While Burian et al found no significant association between bone marrow and muscle fat composition at the lumbosacral junction, Sollmann et al reported a significant correlation of paraspinal muscle PDFF and vertebral body PDFF in postmenopausal women in a small female-only cohort [30,31]. In contrast, no significant correlation between muscle and bone marrow PDFF was observed in premenopausal women [30].…”

Association of Cervical and Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle Composition Using Texture Analysis of MR-Based Proton Density Fat Fraction Maps

“…The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for intra-reader and inter-reader reliability was reported to be 0.966 and 0.942 at C5 level, respectively [2]. Further, an excellent reproducibility was reported for PDFF measurements at L5 level, with a root mean square absolute precision error of 0.48% [21].…”

“…However, there is still a lack of normative studies investigating the structural composition and morphological association of large muscle groups. The paravertebral musculature exhibits age-and gender-specific degeneration patterns, which are relevant in the context of musculoskeletal disorders [2,20,21]. The comparison of structural muscular changes with regard to gender and anatomical location has the potential to contribute valuable information on muscle (patho) physiology.…”

Myosteatosis and bone marrow adiposity are not associated among postmenopausal women with fragility fractures

“…This relationship was modulated by osteoporosis using the WHO definition ( 7 ). In a study by Burian et al., marrow adiposity and myosteatosis were not significantly associated with each other at the lumbosacral spine level in 103 healthy volunteers (21–77 years) ( 8 ). These results support the notion that fat may be preferentially accumulating within muscle and bone only in patients with osteoporosis.…”