Muscle mass is the strongest and most consistent correlate of BMC, while the role of fat is context-specific, varying by sex, age, and bone health status.
Key Findings
Results
Total muscle mass was the strongest and most stable independent positive correlate of total BMC across all subgroups.
Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed total muscle mass as the strongest independent positive correlate of total BMC with β=0.687, P < 0.001 in the overall sample.
Total muscle mass consistently showed a stronger positive correlation with total BMC than total fat mass across all subgroups analyzed.
The analysis was based on 628 subjects who underwent body composition assessment between January 2022 and July 2024.
Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess associations.
Results
Total fat mass was positively associated with total BMC only in specific subgroups, not universally.
Total fat mass was positively associated with total BMC in females, individuals over 70 years, and osteoporosis patients.
Total fat mass was not positively associated with total BMC in normal or osteopenic groups.
This indicates that the role of fat in bone mineral content is context-specific, varying by sex, age, and bone health status.
Results
Age negatively correlated with total BMC, with the effect being particularly strong in females.
Age negatively correlated with total BMC especially in females with β=-0.395, P < 0.001.
Age was included as a covariate in the multiple linear regression analyses.
Results
BMI was negatively correlated with total BMC in the total sample, females, and the osteopenia group.
BMI showed a negative correlation with total BMC in the total sample, in females specifically, and in the osteopenia subgroup.
This finding was identified through multiple linear regression analysis.
BMI was one of the collected parameters alongside age, height, weight, total BMC, total muscle mass, total fat mass, and whole-body BMD T-scores.
Results
Males had significantly greater anthropometric and bone-related measures than females, while females had higher total fat mass.
Males had greater height, weight, BMI, total BMC, total muscle mass, and whole-body T-scores than females (P < 0.001).
Females had higher total fat mass than males.
Groups were compared by sex, age, and whole-body BMD T-score categories.
The study sample consisted of 628 subjects retrospectively analyzed from a single hospital.
Liu J, Chen D, Min T, Bai L, Zhang X, Wang S, et al.. (2026). Assessment of the effects of whole-body muscle and fat mass on bone mineral content based on 628 DXA datasets.. Frontiers in endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2026.1798429