title: The Role of Bone Marrow Fat in Skeletal Health: Usefulness and Perspectives for Clinicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is growing interest in the relationship between bone marrow fat (BMF), bone mineral density (BMD), and fractures. Moreover, BMF might be influenced by metabolic diseases associated with bone loss and fractures, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), anorexia nervosa (AN), and obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary-source literature for this review was acquired using a PubMed search for articles published between January 2000 and April 2015. Search terms included BMF, BMD, fractures, T2DM, AN, and obesity. The titles and abstracts of all articles were reviewed for relevant subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Magnetic resonance imaging, with or without spectroscopy, was used to noninvasively quantify BMF in humans. A negative relationship was found between BMD and BMF in both healthy and osteopenic/osteoporotic populations. Data are lacking on the relationship between BMF and fractures. Studies in populations of individuals with metabolic diseases such as T2DM, AN, and obesity have shown BMF abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that most human data demonstrate an inverse relationship between BMF and BMD, but data on the relationship with fractures are inconsistent and need further study. In daily practice, the usefulness for clinicians of assessing BMF using magnetic resonance imaging is still limited. However, the perspectives are exciting, particularly in terms of improving the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lille (J.P., A.C., G.P., B.C.), Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Place de Verdun, 59000 Lille, France; Service de Rhumatologie (J.P., B.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France; Université du Littoral Côte (P.H.), 62327 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France; and Service d'Imagerie Musculo-Squelettique (A.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paccou
authors.affiliation: Université de Lille (J.P., A.C., G.P., B.C.), Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Place de Verdun, 59000 Lille, France; Service de Rhumatologie (J.P., B.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France; Université du Littoral Côte (P.H.), 62327 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France; and Service d'Imagerie Musculo-Squelettique (A.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hardouin
authors.affiliation: Université de Lille (J.P., A.C., G.P., B.C.), Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Place de Verdun, 59000 Lille, France; Service de Rhumatologie (J.P., B.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France; Université du Littoral Côte (P.H.), 62327 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France; and Service d'Imagerie Musculo-Squelettique (A.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cotten
authors.affiliation: Université de Lille (J.P., A.C., G.P., B.C.), Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Place de Verdun, 59000 Lille, France; Service de Rhumatologie (J.P., B.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France; Université du Littoral Côte (P.H.), 62327 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France; and Service d'Imagerie Musculo-Squelettique (A.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Penel
authors.affiliation: Université de Lille (J.P., A.C., G.P., B.C.), Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Place de Verdun, 59000 Lille, France; Service de Rhumatologie (J.P., B.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France; Université du Littoral Côte (P.H.), 62327 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France; and Service d'Imagerie Musculo-Squelettique (A.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cortet
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015519:Bone Density; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*