Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39869295›Full record

ArticleEndocrine2025

Nonlinear association between liver fat content and lumbar bone mineral density in overweight and obese individuals: evidence from a large-scale health screening data in China.

Ao Liu, Yongbing Sun, Xin Qi, Yang Zhou, Jing Zhou, Zhonglin Li, Xiaoling Wu, Zhi Zou, Xue Lv, Hao Li and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Endocrine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Ao LiuDepartment of Medical Imaging, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, #7 Wei Wu Road, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Yongbing SunDepartment of Medical Imaging, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, #7 Wei Wu Road, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Xin QiDepartment of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Xinxiang Medical College, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Yang ZhouDepartment of Medical Imaging, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, #7 Wei Wu Road, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Jing ZhouDepartment of Health Management, Chronic Health Management Laboratory, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Zhonglin LiHenan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Xiaoling WuDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Zhi ZouHenan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Xue LvDepartment of Health Management, Chronic Health Management Laboratory, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Hao LiDepartment of Health Management, Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital, #1 Fuwai Avenue, Zhengzhou, 451464, China.
Yongli LiDepartment of Health Management, Chronic Health Management Laboratory, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China. shyliyongli@126.com.

Funding

Central Plains Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talents 244200510016Henan Provincial Medical Science and Technology Program Funding SBGJ202302011Henan Provincial Science and Technology Research Program 242102310299Henan Provincial Science and Technology Research Program 242102311018Henan Provincial Science and Technology Research Program 242102311121National Key R&D Program of China 2022YFC2010000, 2022YFC2010001National Natural Science Foundation of China 82071884
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe impact of fatty liver disease on lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) represents an intriguing area of study, particularly in light of established research linking obesity to bone metabolism. However, there remains limited investigation into the correlation between quantifying liver fat content (LFC) and lumbar BMD among overweight and obese populations, particularly within the Chinese demographic. This study aims to accurately quantify LFC and investigate its association with lumbar BMD in overweight or obese individuals.

methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at the Health Management Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to February 2023, involving 6996 participants with a body mass index (BMI) of 24 kg/m² or higher. LFC and lumbar BMD were assessed using computed tomography. The study utilized one-way ANOVA, subgroup analysis, multifactor regression analysis, smooth curve fitting, and threshold and saturation effect analysis to explore the relationship between LFC and lumbar BMD. Furthermore, inflammatory cell analysis was included to investigate the potential mediating role of inflammatory cells in the association between LFC and lumbar BMD.

resultsAfter adjusting for confounding variables, multivariate regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between LFC and lumbar BMD (β = -0.323, 95% CI: -0.464 to -0.183, P < 0.001). Particularly, participants in the highest baseline LFC quartile (Q4 group) exhibited a more pronounced negative impact on lumbar BMD compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1 group) (β = -5.026, 95% CI: -7.040 to -3.012, P < 0.001). Threshold saturation effect analysis identified a turning point in the LFC-BMD relationship (K = 5.4). Below this point, LFC showed a positive correlation with lumbar BMD (β = 0.962, 95% CI: 0.016-1.907, P < 0.05), whereas above it, LFC was significantly negatively correlated with lumbar BMD (β = -0.405, 95% CI: -0.558 to -0.253, P < 0.001). Additionally, mediation analysis indicated that leukocytes and monocytes potentially mediated the association between LFC and lumbar BMD, with mediation ratios of -5.78 and -6.68%, respectively.

conclusionAmong individuals categorized as overweight or obese, elevated levels of LFC were associated with reduced lumbar BMD, particularly noticeable above a threshold of 5.4%. Additionally, various types of inflammatory cells are presumed to exert a substantial mediating influence on the correlation between LFC and lumbar BMD.

Indexed as

Bone DensityFatty LiverLiverLumbar VertebraeObesityOverweightAdultAgedBody Mass IndexChinaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedAdiposityBone mineral densityChinese adultsLFCOsteoporosis

Identifiers

PMID39869295
PMCPMC12069136

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.