Perspective: the bone-fat connection

New dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry equipment in the assessment of vertebral fractures: technical limits and software accuracy

“…Moreover, although body weight has been considered as protective for bone trophism for a long time, therefore for the risk to develop osteoporosis, nowadays there are controversies and a lot of emphasis on the role of fat. Bone-fat "connection" and relationships among these tissues are considered to be a hot topic [25]. Following the trend from the literature, our study confirmed that higher vertebral levels (from T8-T7 up) are burdened to lower image quality and lower diagnostic potential [14,23].…”

Bone Remodeling and Energy Metabolism: New Perspectives

“…The transition of the hematopoietic marrow "red marrow" to one enriched in adipocytes, "yellow marrow", takes place early in life, during bone accrual. Consequently, bone mass gain is not irreconcilable with adipogenesis in the bone marrow (97). Indeed, in appropriate physiological conditions, bone marrow adipocytes might be part of a favorable condition for bone mass formation by supporting 'local' energy utilization and secreting paracrine factors to stimulate osteoblast activity (98).…”

Why does starvation make bones fat?

“…Indeed, the prevailing hypothesis over the last few decades has been that BMAT is a filler, passively occupying space vacated by other cells as hematopoiesis in the appendicular skeleton wanes (Gimble et al,1996; Tavassoli,1984). However, elevated BMAT and low bone mass are also seen in pathological conditions including anorexia, osteoporosis, skeletal unloading or disuse, and sometimes (but not always) obesity, suggesting marrow fat may be bad for bone (Bredella et al,2009, 2010; Dudley‐Javoroski and Shields,2008; Ecklund et al,2009; Trudel et al,2009; Yeung et al,2005). It has even been reported that there is a reciprocal relationship of bone mass and marrow fat in young, healthy individuals (Di Iorgi et al,2008, 2010; Wren et al,2011), although high marrow fat can cause bone mineral density (BMD) to be underestimated (Bolotin et al,2003; Hangartner and Johnston,1990).…”