Negative correlation between relative fat mass and bone mineral density: NHANES 2011–2018

BackgroundUtilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study investigated the association between Relative Fat Mass (RFM) and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) in adults, specifically evaluating the impact of RFM on lumbar BMD and determining the cons...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xing-An Jiang, Hong-Li Zhang, Bin-Tao Ye, Shao-Qi Fang, Jia-Jin Zhang, Hao-Lin Yu, Jun-Bo Liang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1584293/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849427875152789504
author Xing-An Jiang
Xing-An Jiang
Hong-Li Zhang
Bin-Tao Ye
Shao-Qi Fang
Jia-Jin Zhang
Hao-Lin Yu
Jun-Bo Liang
Jun-Bo Liang
author_facet Xing-An Jiang
Xing-An Jiang
Hong-Li Zhang
Bin-Tao Ye
Shao-Qi Fang
Jia-Jin Zhang
Hao-Lin Yu
Jun-Bo Liang
Jun-Bo Liang
author_sort Xing-An Jiang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundUtilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study investigated the association between Relative Fat Mass (RFM) and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) in adults, specifically evaluating the impact of RFM on lumbar BMD and determining the consistency of this relationship across diverse populations.MethodsCross-sectional data from 9,238 adults aged ≥20 years in the 2011–2018 NHANES cycles were analyzed. Relative fat mass (RFM) values were derived through a formula incorporating waist circumference (WC) and height. The relationship between RFM and lumbar BMD was assessed through weighted multiple linear regression models, subgroup analyses, and smooth curve fitting.ResultsAfter adjusting for multiple covariates, RFM exhibited a statistically significant inverse relationship with lumbar spine BMD. In the fully adjusted model, a per-unit increment in RFM was linked to a decline of 0.0110 g/cm2 in lumbar BMD (β = −0.0110, 95% CI: −0.0132 to-0.0088; p < 0.0001). Additionally, an inflection point was detected at RFM = 20.5847 (p < 0.001), with significantly distinct correlations between RFM and lumbar spine BMD when values were above or below this point. Subgroup analyses confirmed the persistence of this inverse relationship in virtually all population subgroups stratified by demographic characteristics or health statuses.ConclusionThe analysis reveals a notable inverse relationship between RFM values and BMD measurements in the lumbar spine, suggesting that elevated RFM levels might correlate with reduced BMD and heightened susceptibility to osteoporosis (OP) development. These observations highlight the critical role of evaluating adipose distribution patterns when devising preventive measures against OP and support employing RFM as an potential indicator for initiating early clinical interventions aimed at mitigating bone density deterioration.
format Article
id doaj-art-70e8bbe801fb4f879ac94b3ab2bda31d
institution Kabale University
issn 2296-2565
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Public Health
spelling doaj-art-70e8bbe801fb4f879ac94b3ab2bda31d2025-08-20T03:28:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15842931584293Negative correlation between relative fat mass and bone mineral density: NHANES 2011–2018Xing-An Jiang0Xing-An Jiang1Hong-Li Zhang2Bin-Tao Ye3Shao-Qi Fang4Jia-Jin Zhang5Hao-Lin Yu6Jun-Bo Liang7Jun-Bo Liang8Department of Orthopedic, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Taizhou, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, ChinaOrthopedic Department, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, ChinaOrthopedic Department, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, ChinaOrthopedic Department, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, ChinaOrthopedic Department, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Taizhou, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, ChinaBackgroundUtilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study investigated the association between Relative Fat Mass (RFM) and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) in adults, specifically evaluating the impact of RFM on lumbar BMD and determining the consistency of this relationship across diverse populations.MethodsCross-sectional data from 9,238 adults aged ≥20 years in the 2011–2018 NHANES cycles were analyzed. Relative fat mass (RFM) values were derived through a formula incorporating waist circumference (WC) and height. The relationship between RFM and lumbar BMD was assessed through weighted multiple linear regression models, subgroup analyses, and smooth curve fitting.ResultsAfter adjusting for multiple covariates, RFM exhibited a statistically significant inverse relationship with lumbar spine BMD. In the fully adjusted model, a per-unit increment in RFM was linked to a decline of 0.0110 g/cm2 in lumbar BMD (β = −0.0110, 95% CI: −0.0132 to-0.0088; p < 0.0001). Additionally, an inflection point was detected at RFM = 20.5847 (p < 0.001), with significantly distinct correlations between RFM and lumbar spine BMD when values were above or below this point. Subgroup analyses confirmed the persistence of this inverse relationship in virtually all population subgroups stratified by demographic characteristics or health statuses.ConclusionThe analysis reveals a notable inverse relationship between RFM values and BMD measurements in the lumbar spine, suggesting that elevated RFM levels might correlate with reduced BMD and heightened susceptibility to osteoporosis (OP) development. These observations highlight the critical role of evaluating adipose distribution patterns when devising preventive measures against OP and support employing RFM as an potential indicator for initiating early clinical interventions aimed at mitigating bone density deterioration.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1584293/fullrelative fat massbone mineral densityosteoporosisNHANESobesity
spellingShingle Xing-An Jiang
Xing-An Jiang
Hong-Li Zhang
Bin-Tao Ye
Shao-Qi Fang
Jia-Jin Zhang
Hao-Lin Yu
Jun-Bo Liang
Jun-Bo Liang
Negative correlation between relative fat mass and bone mineral density: NHANES 2011–2018
Frontiers in Public Health
relative fat mass
bone mineral density
osteoporosis
NHANES
obesity
title Negative correlation between relative fat mass and bone mineral density: NHANES 2011–2018
title_full Negative correlation between relative fat mass and bone mineral density: NHANES 2011–2018
title_fullStr Negative correlation between relative fat mass and bone mineral density: NHANES 2011–2018
title_full_unstemmed Negative correlation between relative fat mass and bone mineral density: NHANES 2011–2018
title_short Negative correlation between relative fat mass and bone mineral density: NHANES 2011–2018
title_sort negative correlation between relative fat mass and bone mineral density nhanes 2011 2018
topic relative fat mass
bone mineral density
osteoporosis
NHANES
obesity
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1584293/full
work_keys_str_mv AT xinganjiang negativecorrelationbetweenrelativefatmassandbonemineraldensitynhanes20112018
AT xinganjiang negativecorrelationbetweenrelativefatmassandbonemineraldensitynhanes20112018
AT honglizhang negativecorrelationbetweenrelativefatmassandbonemineraldensitynhanes20112018
AT bintaoye negativecorrelationbetweenrelativefatmassandbonemineraldensitynhanes20112018
AT shaoqifang negativecorrelationbetweenrelativefatmassandbonemineraldensitynhanes20112018
AT jiajinzhang negativecorrelationbetweenrelativefatmassandbonemineraldensitynhanes20112018
AT haolinyu negativecorrelationbetweenrelativefatmassandbonemineraldensitynhanes20112018
AT junboliang negativecorrelationbetweenrelativefatmassandbonemineraldensitynhanes20112018
AT junboliang negativecorrelationbetweenrelativefatmassandbonemineraldensitynhanes20112018