Qing Yuan1, Ivan Dimitrov2, Paul T. Weatherall1, Ildiko Lingvay3, Naim M. Maalouf3
1Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States; 2Philips Medical Systems, Cleveland, OH, United States; 3Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Bone marrow lipotoxicity has recently been postulated as a contributing mechanism to osteoporosis. We evaluated the relationship between hip bone mineral density (BMD) and bone marrow fat content in 23 volunteers. Femoral neck bone marrow fat was quantified using 1H MRS. A significant inverse correlation was found between bone marrow fat and BMD T-scores. Although women and men had similar age, body weight, femoral neck and total hip BMD, bone marrow fat content was significantly higher in men compared to women. Our data provides preliminary support to the concept of bone marrow lipotoxicity and its possible relationship with osteoporosis.
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