It has long been known that the amount of muscle in the body is related to bone growth, but the new study shows that fat mass is also important in building bone, particularly in girls.

From the skin cells, the nutrient enters the bloodstream and circulates to bones and organs, doing its important work of healing, building and fortifying.

The studies suggest that the skeleton may be an important regulator of whole-body energy metabolism, joining the ranks of known metabolic regulators such as muscle and fat.