Relation between bone mineral density, biological markers and anthropometric measures in 4-year-old children: a pilot study within the IDEFICS study.

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. CONCLUSION: 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.