title: Relation between bone mineral density, biological markers and anthropometric measures in 4-year-old children: a pilot study within the IDEFICS study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), anthropometric characteristics, levels of biological markers for growth, bone turnover, insulin resistance and fat mass in 4-year-old Swedish children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study with 41 children (28 boys) who had anthropometric measurements and blood samples taken and heel dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and laser (DXL) performed. The study participants were divided into groups of normal-weight (n=28) and overweight or obese (n=13) children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in bone mineral content (BMC), BMD and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) between overweight and normal-weight children. There was a significant positive correlation between BMC, BMD, BMAD and body mass index standard deviation scores (r=0.36, 0.34 and 0.29, P<0.01, respectively), waist circumference (r=0.32, 0.30, P<0.01 and r=0.26, P<0.05, respectively) and subscapular skinfold (r=0.26, 0.25 and 0.23, P<0.05, respectively). BMC and BMD correlated significantly with the sum of skinfold measures (r=0.25 and 0.23, P<0.05, respectively). Adiponectin was significantly inversely correlated with BMC, BMD and BMAD (r=-0.41, -0.40 and -0.41, P<0.01, respectively). Adiponectin was not correlated with skinfold measures. Multiple regression analysis revealed that adiponectin was an independent determinant of BMD, BMC and BMAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating BMD assessed by heel-DXL in relation to anthropometry and metabolic markers in 4-year-old children. Adiponectin was significantly inversely correlated with bone mass parameters. Adiponectin may have an independent role in bone development and metabolism in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Institute for Clinical Sciences, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden. bojan.tubic@gu.se
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tubić
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Swolin-Eide
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mårild
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000886:Anthropometry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers