Association of lipid parameters and insulin resistance with bone health in South Korean adolescents

Abstract

This study investigated the association between lipid profiles and insulin resistance and bone mineral content (BMC) in Korean adolescents and found that BMC was inversely associated with triglyceride (TG) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). This association did not differ according to obesity status in either boys or girls. Introduction To prevent future osteoporosis, it is important to identify factors that affect bone health in adolescents as well as adults. This study aimed to examine the association between lipid profiles and insulin resistance and BMC in Korean adolescents. Methods Data from 706 boys and 621 girls, who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011, were analyzed. Lipid profiles were measured, and HOMA-IR was calculated to assess insulin resistance. BMC was measured for the total femur, femur neck, and lumbar spine by using whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results TG level and HOMA-IR were negatively correlated with BMC at all three sites in boys. In girls, TG level showed a negative correlation with BMC at the femur neck and lumbar spine, and HOMA-IR was negatively associated with BMC at the femur neck only. These inverse associations did not differ according to obesity status in either sex. Adjusted means of BMC at the three sites in boys tended to decrease in the higher tertile groups of TG and HOMA-IR, and the adjusted means of BMC for the total femur in girls tended to decrease in the higher tertile groups of TG and HOMA-IR. Conclusions BMC was inversely associated with TG and HOMA-IR in Korean adolescents, and this association was more pronounced in boys. This association did not differ according to obesity status in either sex.