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Bone marrow fat content in the elderly: A reversal of sex difference seen in younger subjects
Author(s) -
Griffith James F.,
Yeung David K.W.,
Ma Heather Ting,
Leung Jason Chi Shun,
Kwok Timothy C.Y.,
Leung Ping Chung
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.23619
Subject(s) - bone marrow , medicine , osteoporosis , bone mineral content , physiology , endocrinology , bone mineral
Abstract Purpose: To investigate vertebral bone marrow fat content in elderly subjects related to sex, age, and bone mineral density (BMD) and relate these findings to published data in younger subjects. Materials and Methods: A total of 259 healthy subjects (145 females, 114 males; age range, 62–90 years) underwent proton ( 1 H) MR spectroscopy of L3 vertebral body and BMD of the lumbar spine with results stratified according to age. Ninety age‐ and BMD‐matched subjects were selected to determine sex differences in marrow fat content and BMD. Results: In females, vertebral marrow fat content rose sharply between 55 and 65 years of age while in males vertebral marrow fat content rose gradually throughout life. Vertebral marrow fat content in females more than 60 years was approximately 10% higher in females than males, i.e., a reversal of sex difference reported in marrow fat content for subjects less than 60 years. Conclusion: Marrow fat content increases sharply in female subjects between 55 and 65 years of age while male subjects continue to increase marrow fat at a more gradual steady rate. Females older than 60 years have a higher marrow fat content than males. This increased deposition in marrow fat concurs with recognized changes in extraosseous fat distribution in postmenopausal females. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:225–230. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.