Changes in Bone Marrow Fat upon Dietary-Induced Weight Loss.

Manuela Spurny,Tilman Kühn,Cornelia M Ulrich,Rudolf Kaaks,Christopher L Schlett,Yixin Jiang,Tobias Nonnenmacher,Johanna Nattenmüller,Hans-Ulrich Kauczor,Theron Johnson,Robert Bertheau,Romy Kirsten,Jens Hillengass,Ruth Schübel,Oyunbileg Von Stackelberg,Solomon A Sowah

doi:10.3390/nu12051509

Abstract

Background: Bone marrow fat is implicated in metabolism, bone health and haematological diseases. Thus, this study aims to analyse the impact of moderate weight loss on bone marrow fat content (BMFC) in obese, healthy individuals. Methods: Data of the HELENA-Trial (Healthy nutrition and energy restriction as cancer prevention strategies: a randomized controlled intervention trial), a randomized controlled trial (RCT) among 137 non-smoking, overweight or obese participants, were analysed to quantify the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-derived BMFC at baseline, after a 12-week dietary intervention phase, and after a 50-week follow-up. The study cohort was classified into quartiles based on changes in body weight between baseline and week 12. Changes in BMFC in respect of weight loss were analysed by linear mixed models. Spearman’s coefficients were used to assess correlations between anthropometric parameters, blood biochemical markers, blood cells and BMFC. Results: Relative changes in BMFC from baseline to week 12 were 0.0 ± 0.2%, −3.2 ± 0.1%, −6.1 ± 0.2% and −11.5 ± 0.6% for Q1 to Q4. Across all four quartiles and for the two-group comparison, Q1 versus Q4, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) for changes in BMFC. BMFC was not associated with blood cell counts and showed only weaker correlations (<0.3) with metabolic biomarkers. Conclusion: Weight loss is associated with a decrease of BMFC. However, BMFC showed no stronger associations with inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers.

Highlights

Overweight and obesity are major health problems of societies in industrial countries, and in emerging nations
We found weaker correlations between bone marrow fat content (BMFC) and adiponectin at baseline and after 12 weeks, which is described in the research work of Cawthorn et al [34], who found that a higher level of circulating adiponectin is correlated with an increased level of Bone marrow fat (BMF) during caloric restriction in a mouse model
We found in our study that loss of bone marrow fat is dependent on a remarkable amount of weight loss, the otherwise healthy individuals of our study are not readily comparable to anorectic individuals

Summary

Introduction

Overweight and obesity are major health problems of societies in industrial countries, and in emerging nations. As BMF is linked to metabolism and haematologic diseases, it is important to obtain more understanding of this relationship by analysing the effects of changes in BMF following weight loss. The HELENA-Trial (Healthy nutrition and energy restriction as cancer prevention strategies: a randomized controlled intervention trial) is the first study that analyses BMFC after diet-induced weight loss after 12 weeks of intervention, and that covers both sexes with a large number of participants (n = 150). This study aims to analyse the impact of moderate weight loss on bone marrow fat content (BMFC) in obese, healthy individuals. Methods: Data of the HELENA-Trial (Healthy nutrition and energy restriction as cancer prevention strategies: a randomized controlled intervention trial), a randomized controlled trial (RCT) among 137 non-smoking, overweight or obese participants, were analysed to quantify the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-derived BMFC at baseline, after a. Results: Relative changes in BMFC from baseline to week 12 were 0.0 ± 0.2%,

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