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Osteoporosis International
Published in: Osteoporosis International 7/2009

01-07-2009 | Original Article

Age, gender, and race/ethnic differences in total body and subregional bone density

Authors: A. C. Looker, L. J. Melton III, T. Harris, L. Borrud, J. Shepherd, J. McGowan

Published in: Osteoporosis International | Issue 7/2009

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Abstract

Summary

Total body bone density of adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004 differed as expected for some groups (men>women and blacks>whites) but not others (whites>Mexican Americans). Cross-sectional age patterns in bone mineral density (BMD) of older adults differed at skeletal sites that varied by degree of weight-bearing.

Introduction

Total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) data offer the opportunity to compare bone density of demographic groups across the entire skeleton.

Methods

The present study uses total body DXA data (Hologic QDR 4500A, Hologic, Bedford MA, USA) from the NHANES 1999–2004 to examine BMD of the total body and selected skeletal subregions in a wide age range of adult men and women from three race/ethnic groups. Total body, lumbar spine, pelvis, right leg, and left arm BMD and lean mass from 13,091 adults aged 20 years and older were used. The subregions were chosen to represent sites with different degrees of weight-bearing.

Results

Mean BMD varied in expected ways for some demographic characteristics (men>women and non-Hispanic blacks>non-Hispanic whites) but not others (non-Hispanic whites>Mexican Americans). Differences in age patterns in BMD also emerged for some characteristics (sex) but not others (race/ethnicity). Differences in cross-sectional age patterns in BMD and lean mass by degree of weight-bearing in older adults were observed for the pelvis, leg, and arm.

Conclusion

This information may be useful for generating hypotheses about age, race, and sex differences in fracture risk in the population.
Footnotes
1
Participants were excluded from the DXA examination if they had a history of radiographic contrast material (barium) use in past 72 h, nuclear medicine studies in the past 3 days, weighed over 300 lb (self-reported), or were taller than 6 ft 5 in.; the latter two characteristics were related to physical limitations of the DXA table. Females were excluded if they had a positive pregnancy test or said they were pregnant at the time of the examination.
 
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Metadata
Title
Age, gender, and race/ethnic differences in total body and subregional bone density
Authors
A. C. Looker
L. J. Melton III
T. Harris
L. Borrud
J. Shepherd
J. McGowan
Publication date
01-07-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Osteoporosis International / Issue 7/2009
Print ISSN: 0937-941X
Electronic ISSN: 1433-2965
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0809-6

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