Abstract
Post-puberty, bone mass displays clear sex-specific patterns. However, research has suggested that a sexual dimorphism in bone mass is evident in younger children and is likely attributable to differences in lean mass. Thus, we aimed to determine whether the association with both overall muscle mass and/or muscle strength was different between the sexes in a paediatric population. Participants were recruited as part of the Vitamin D in Pregnancy Study, Australia. There were 209/402 (52.3%) children at the 11-year follow-up, and 172 had complete data. Children were assessed for bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD) and lean mass by DXA (Lunar). Handgrip strength (kg) was measured using a dynamometer (JAMAR). Linear regression models were adjusted for height, weight, age and pubertal stage. In adjusted models, including both muscle strength and lean mass, the observed association differed between boys and girls. At the spine in boys, BMC and BMD were associated with muscle strength (β 0.34 [95%CI 0.09–0.59] and 0.008 [95%CI 0.003–0.014]; respectively) but not total muscle mass. However, muscle mass was associated with BMC and BMD at the total body (less head). In girls, spine BMC and BMD were associated with total lean mass (β 0.95 [95%CI 0.61–1.3] and β 0.01 [95%CI 0.005–0.02], respectively), with a similar pattern of association with total body (less head) measures. Muscle mass and strength appear to have sexually dimorphic effects on bone mass in school-aged children. These findings should be replicated in longitudinal studies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Weaver CM, Gordon CM, Janz KF, Kalkwarf HJ, Lappe JM, Lewis R, O’Karma M, Wallace TC, Zemel BS (2016) The National Osteoporosis Foundation's position statement on peak bone mass development and lifestyle factors: a systematic review and implementation recommendations. Osteoporos Int 27:1281–1386
Ebeling PR, Daly RM, Kerr DA, Kimlin MG (2013) Building healthy bones throughout life: an evidence-informed strategy to prevent osteoporosis in Australia. Med J Aust 199:S1
Burr DB, Robling AG, Turner CH (2002) Effects of biomechanical stress on bones in animals. Bone 30:781–786
Duckham RL, Rantalainen T, Ducher G, Hill B, Telford RD, Telford RM, Daly RM (2016) Effects of habitual physical activity and fitness on tibial cortical bone mass, structure and mass distribution in pre-pubertal boys and girls: the look study. Calcif Tissue Int 99:56–65
Harvey NC, Cole ZA, Crozier SR, Kim M, Ntani G, Goodfellow L, Robinson SM, Inskip HM, Godfrey KM, Dennison EM, Wareham N, Ekelund U, Cooper C, The SWSSG (2012) Physical activity, calcium intake and childhood bone mineral: a population-based cross-sectional study. Osteoporos Int 23:121–130
Tobias JH, Steer CD, Mattocks CG, Riddoch C, Ness AR (2007) Habitual levels of physical activity influence bone mass in 11-year-old children from the united kingdom: findings from a large population-based cohort. J Bone Miner Res 22:101–109
Duckham RL, Baxter-Jones AD, Johnston JD, Vatanparast H, Cooper D, Kontulainen S (2014) Does physical activity in adolescence have site-specific and sex-specific benefits on young adult bone size, content, and estimated strength? J Bone Miner Res 29:479–486
Janz KF, Letuchy EM, Burns TL, Francis SL, Levy SM (2015) Muscle power predicts adolescent bone strength: iowa bone development study. Med Sci Sports Exerc 47:2201–2206
Maggioli C, Stagi S (2017) Bone modeling, remodeling, and skeletal health in children and adolescents: mineral accrual, assessment and treatment. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 22:1–5
Medina-Gomez C, Heppe DH, Yin J, Trajanoska K, Uitterlinden AG, Beck TJ, Jaddoe VW, Rivadeneira F (2016) Bone mass and strength in school-age children exhibit sexual dimorphism related to differences in lean mass: the generation R study. J Bone Miner Res 31:1099–1106
Marshall WA, Tanner JM (1969) Variations in pattern of pubertal changes in girls. Arch Dis Child 44:291–303
Marshall WA, Tanner JM (1970) Variations in the pattern of pubertal changes in boys. Arch Dis Child 45:13–23
Lang TF (2011) The bone-muscle relationship in men and women. J Osteoporos 2011:702735
Pasco JA, Holloway KL, Brennan-Olsen SL, Moloney DJ, Kotowicz MA (2015) Muscle strength and areal bone mineral density at the hip in women: a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 16:124–124
Jackowski SA, Lanovaz JL, Van Oort C, Baxter-Jones AD (2014) Does lean tissue mass accrual during adolescence influence bone structural strength at the proximal femur in young adulthood? Osteoporos Int 25:1297–1304
Nordström P, Thorsen K, Nordström G, Bergström E, Lorentzon R (1995) Bone mass, muscle strength, and different body constitutional parameters in adolescent boys with a low or moderate exercise level. Bone 17:351–356
Ferretti JL, Cointry GR, Capozza RF, Frost HM (2003) Bone mass, bone strength, muscle–bone interactions, osteopenias and osteoporoses. Mech Ageing Dev 124:269–279
Young D, Hopper JL, Macinnis RJ, Nowson CA, Hoang NH, Wark JD (2001) Changes in body composition as determinants of longitudinal changes in bone mineral measures in 8 to 26-year-old female twins. Osteoporos Int 12:506–515
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the staff and participants of the Vitamin D in Pregnancy Study. The project has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Bupa Health Foundation. NKH and JAP are the current recipients of an unrelated grant from the Norman Beischer Medical Research Foundation. SMH and JAP are currently receiving unrelated project funding from Amgen. JAP is also an investigator on an unrelated National Health and Medical Research Council grant.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
Natalie K. Hyde, Rachel L. Duckham, John D. Wark, Sharon L. Brennan‑Olsen, Sarah M. Hosking, Kara L. Holloway‑Kew, Julie A. Pasco declare no conflict of interest.
Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent
This study was approved by Barwon Health Human Research Ethics Committee. Guardians provided informed written consent on behalf of their children and additionally children provided optional assent.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hyde, N.K., Duckham, R.L., Wark, J.D. et al. The Association Between Muscle Mass and Strength in Relation to Bone Measures in a Paediatric Population: Sex-Specific Effects. Calcif Tissue Int 107, 121–125 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-020-00699-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-020-00699-y