title: A study of bone marrow and subcutaneous fatty acid composition in subjects of varying bone mineral density.
abstract: Osteoporosis is associated with an increase in marrow fat. Fats, particularly polyunsaturated fats, either in co-cultures or diet, have been shown to significantly influence bone remodeling. Whether the increase in marrow fat seen in osteoporosis is also associated with a change in fatty acid composition is not known. This study was undertaken to investigate the fatty acid composition in subjects of varying bone mineral density (BMD). Samples of marrow fat and subcutaneous fat from 126 subjects (98 females, 34 males, mean age 69.7+/-10.5 years) undergoing orthopedic surgery were analyzed for fatty acid composition by gas chromatography. These results were correlated with BMD assessed by DXA. A total of 22 fatty acids were identified in marrow and subcutaneous fat. Significant differences in fatty acid composition existed between marrow and subcutaneous fat as well as between marrow fat samples obtained from the proximal femur and proximal tibia. Other than cis-7-hexadecenoic acid [C16:1 (n=9)] and docosanoic acid [C22:0], no difference in marrow fatty acid composition was evident between subject groups of varying BMD (normal, low bone mass, and osteoporosis). In conclusion, there exists a wide range of individual fatty acids in marrow fat. Marrow fatty acid composition differs from that of subcutaneous fat and varies between predominantly erythropoetic and fatty marrow sites. Other than cis-7-hexadecenoic acid [C16:1 (n=9)] and docosanoic acid [C22:0], no difference in marrow fatty acid composition was evident between subjects of varying BMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong. griffith@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: David K W
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Anil T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.forename: Carol W Y
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.forename: Wong Yin
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Sherlock S L
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Zhen-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ping C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated