Fat/water fraction of lumbar bone marrow using localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The use of the STEAM (STimulated Echo Acquisition Mode) pulse sequence for the rapid measurement of the lipid/water ratio from the bone marrow in the human lumbar vertebral body was assessed with a view to its application to the non-invasive screening for osteoporosis. Thirty-seven healthy volunteers (18 men, 19 women) were examined, ranging in age from 21 to 68 years (mean = 40, S.D. = 13). The fat fraction of the bone marrow was calculated from the areas of the fat and water peak in the proton spectrum. The results demonstrate that, in the course of aging, there is a systematic increase in fat percentage of 6 % per decade of age, with no sex difference.