Influence of sarcopenia on bone health parameters in a group of eumenorrheic obese premenopausal women

Introduction The aim of this study was to compare bone mineral density (BMD) and geometric indices of hip bone strength in a group of obese sarcopenic premenopausal women ( n = 27) and a group of obese premenopausal women with normal appendicular lean mass (ALM)/body mass index ratio (BMI) ( n = 26). Materials and methods The ALM/BMI criterion of The Foundation for the National Institute of Health was used; women with an ALM/BMI ratio < 0.512 m 2 were considered obese sarcopenic. Body composition and bone variables were measured by DXA. DXA measurements were completed for the whole body (WB), lumbar spine (L1–L4), total hip (TH) and femoral neck (FN). Hip geometry parameters including cross-sectional area (CSA), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI), section modulus ( Z ), strength index (SI) and buckling ratio (BR) were derived by DXA. Results Age, weight and BMI were not significantly different between the two groups. Height, lean mass, skeletal muscle mass index, ALM and the ratio ALM/BMI were significantly higher in obese women with normal ALM/BMI ratio compared to obese sarcopenic women. Fat mass percentage was significantly higher in obese sarcopenic women compared to obese women with normal ALM/BMI ratio. WB BMC, TH BMD, FN BMD, CSA, CSMI and Z were significantly higher in obese women with normal ALM/BMI ratio compared to obese sarcopenic women. In the whole population ( n = 53), ALM and the ratio ALM/BMI were positively correlated to WB BMC, CSA, CSMI and Z . Conclusion The present study suggests that sarcopenia negatively influences bone mineral density and hip geometry parameters before menopause in eumenorrheic obese women.