Body Composition as a Predictor of Scoliosis

Abstract

Research Article| December 01 2014 Body Composition as a Predictor of Scoliosis AAP Grand Rounds (2014) 32 (6): 64. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.32-6-64 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Body Composition as a Predictor of Scoliosis. AAP Grand Rounds December 2014; 32 (6): 64. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.32-6-64 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: scoliosis, body composition Source: Clark EM, Taylor HJ, Harding I, et al. Association between components of body composition and scoliosis: a prospective cohort study reporting differences identifiable before the onset of scoliosis. J Bone Miner Res. 2014; 29(8): 1729– 1736; doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.2207Google Scholar Investigators from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom sought to determine the relationship of body mass with the development of idiopathic scoliosis in children. Using the cohort of patients from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), the authors carried out the first population-based prospective study evaluating the association between fat and lean mass at age 10 years with presence of scoliosis at age 15 years. The presence or absence of scoliosis at age 15 years was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) images, and scoliosis was defined as a curve of ≥6°. Total body fat and lean mass at 10 and 15 years of age were also assessed using DXA. Leptin and adiponectin levels were determined at age 10 years in nonfasting blood samples. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between several measures of body composition at age 10 (body mass index [BMI], body weight, fat mass, and lean mass) and presence of scoliosis at age 15. The association between leptin and adiponectin levels and scoliosis were also assessed. Of 5,299 children with measurements, 312 (5.9%) had scoliosis at age 15 years. After adjustment for age and gender, higher BMI and higher body weight at age 10 years were both associated with a significantly reduced risk for scoliosis at age 15 years (OR = 0.80 and 0.87, respectively). There was also a significantly reduced risk of scoliosis at age 15 years per standard deviation increase in fat mass at age 10 years (OR = 0.86). Lean mass was negatively associated with presence of scoliosis at age 15. These findings reflect associations between scoliosis and both fat mass and lean mass. In terms of adipocyte function, a statistically significant inverse association was seen between leptin at age 10 years and scoliosis, but there was no significant association between adiponectin at age 10 years and scoliosis. The authors conclude that altered body composition is present before the onset of scoliosis. Dr Hennrikus has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. Prior case-control studies have suggested that lower body weight is associated with scoliosis.1 The current study is the first to prospectively determine the association between individual components of body weight and scoliosis. The authors demonstrated a negative association between BMI/body weight and scoliosis. Additionally, they found both reduced fat mass and reduced lean mass in children with scoliosis. Furthermore, the authors found differences in the function of adipose tissue as assessed by adipocyte-derived hormone levels at age 10 years, before the onset of clinically detectable adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Interestingly, these findings are in contrast to the well-known... You do not currently have access to this content.