绝经后女性握力与骨密度的相关性研究

目的研究绝经后女性握力和骨密度的相关性。方法对120例绝经后女性进行握力测量和骨密度测定,观察≤60岁组、61~70岁组和70岁组的握力和骨密度变化,应用单因素Person相关性分析和散点图研究握力与骨密度的相关性。结果最大握力:≤60岁组25.86±4.77 kg,61~70岁组23.37±4.64 kg,70岁组16.63±5.40 kg。骨密度测定提示:65例股骨颈T值≤-2.5;90例腰椎T值≤-2.5。最大握力与骨密度均随年龄增加而减少。握力与股骨颈和腰椎骨密度呈非常显著正相关。结论绝经后女性握力越大,股骨颈和腰椎骨密度越高。     

50例绝经后高疾病活动期的女性类风湿关节炎骨密度的临床观察

目的观察绝经后高疾病活动期的女性类风湿关节炎患者骨矿物质密度水平的变化。方法收集50例绝经后女性RA患者一般临床资料,包括年龄、RA病程、绝经年龄、ESR、CRP、RF、抗CCP抗体、DSA28评分及雌二醇水平,应用双能X线吸收法(DXA)测定50例患者腰椎L_(1-4)和左髋关节部位的骨密度,分析其骨密度(BMD)的情况。结果 1.50例绝经后女性RA的DSA28评分大于5.1,属高疾病活动期,骨质疏松组发生率52%;远高于骨量减少组(30%)及骨密度正常组(18%)。2.骨质疏松组的绝经年龄比非骨质疏松组明显提前(P=0.005),抗CCP抗体水平明显升高(P=0.037),有统计学意义,但在年龄、病程、RF、DSA28评分及雌激素方面两者无统计学差异。3.Logistic回归分析结果显示抗CCP抗体(OR值1.025,P=0.041)是绝经后高疾病活动女性RA骨质疏松的独立危险因素。4.骨质疏松组,腰椎总骨密度较髋关节显著降低(P0.001);腰椎组内比较以腰1椎体BMD最低,而后依次为腰2,腰3、腰4(P=0.0003),左髋关节组内比较以大转子BMD最低,而后依次为股骨颈、小转子(P0.0001)。结论绝经后高疾病活动期的女性RA患者存在明显的骨质疏松,以腰椎骨密度(特别L_1)下降最明显;抗CCP抗体可能是高疾病活动期的女性类RA患者发生骨质疏松的危险因素。     

大豆异黄酮对绝经后妇女骨的影响

目的 从临床角度研究大豆异黄酮对兰州地区绝经后妇女骨的影响。方法 在兰州地区筛选出绝经后妇女60人,随机分为大豆异黄酮组(SIF)和对照组(Control),每人每天服用大豆异黄酮90mg或者同等剂量安慰剂,时间6个月。抽血检测血清碱性磷酸酶和血清钙、磷,超声测定胫骨中段骨密度（BMD）。 结果 血清碱性磷酸酶显著下降（P<0.05）,血清钙显著升高（P<0.05）,胫骨中段BMD显著升高（P<0.05）。结论 大豆异黄酮可增加绝经后妇女骨密度,减少骨丢失。因而可以预防治疗骨质疏松症。     

Physical training preserves bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with forearm fractures and low bone mineral density

Summary One hundred and twelve postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density (BMD) and forearm fractures were randomized to physical training or control group. After one year the total hip BMD was significantly higher in the women in the physical training group. The results indicate a positive effect of physical training on BMD in postmenopausal women with low BMD. Introduction The fivefold increase in hip fracture incidence since 1950 in Sweden may partially be due to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Our hypothesis was that physical training can prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women. Methods One hundred and twelve postmenopausal women 45 to 65 years with forearm fractures and T-scores from −1.0 to −3.0 were randomized to either a physical training or control group. Training included three fast 30-minute walks and two sessions of one-hour training per week. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the hip and the lumbar spine at baseline and after one year. Results A per protocol analysis was performed, including 48 subjects in the training group and 44 subjects in the control group. The total hip BMD increased in the training group +0.005 g/cm2 (±0.018), +0.58%, while it decreased −0.003 g/cm2 (±0.019), −0.36%, (p = 0.041) in the control group. No significant effects of physical training were seen in the lumbar spine. A sensitivity intention to treat analysis, including all randomized subjects, showed no significant effect of physical training on BMD at any site. Conclusions The results indicate a small but positive effect of physical exercise on hip BMD in postmenopausal women with low BMD.     

High bone mineral density is associated with high body mass index

Summary  High BMD is an infrequent finding. In this retrospective cohort study of women 50 years and older, we documented a strong association between high BMD and high BMI. Introduction  High bone mineral density (BMD) has been associated with genetic disorders and a variety of dietary, endocrine, metabolic, infectious and neoplastic diseases that in many cases warrant medical attention. Since body mass index (BMI) is closely correlated with BMD, we sought to explore the relationship between these two parameters in older women. Methods  We conducted a retrospective clinical cohort study of 16,500 women 50 years and older who underwent baseline BMD testing between May 1998 and October 2002. Mean T-scores and Z-scores, and the proportions of women with high BMD (T-score +2.5 or greater, Z-score +2.0 or greater), were assessed according to BMI category. Results  Higher BMI category was associated with higher mean T-scores and Z-scores at all sites (P < 0.001). The proportion of women with high BMD increased with each BMI category (P for trend <0.05). In women with a lumbar spine T-score of +2.5 or more, 43.5% were obese with BMI > 30 kg/m² (55.6% for the femoral neck and 73.1% for the total hip). For women with a lumbar spine Z-score of +2.0 or more, 37.2% were obese (42.0% for the femoral neck and 50.9% for the total hip). There was no evidence of a paradoxical increase in fracture rates in women with high BMD. Conclusions  High BMD is closely associated with elevated BMI in women. This should be taken into consideration prior to initiating extensive investigations for rare pathologies. This study was supported in part by an unrestricted educational grant from the CHAR/GE Healthcare Development Awards Programme.     

The relationship between bone mineral density and ultrasound in postmenopausal and osteoporotic women

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to use a novel method of data analysis to demonstrate that patients with osteoporosis have significantly lower ultrasound results in the heel after correcting for the effect of bone mineral density (BMD) measured in the spine or hip. Three groups of patients were studied: healthy early postmenopausal women, within 3 years of the menopause (n=104, 50%), healthy late postmenopausal women, more than 10 years from the menopause (n=75, 36%), and a group of women with osteoporosis as defined by WHO criteria (n=30, 14%). Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS) and Stiffness were measured using a Lunar Achilles heel machine, and BMD of the lumbar spine and left hip was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). SOS, BUA and Stiffness were regressed against lumbar spine BMD and femoral BMD for all three groups combined. The correlation coefficients were in the range 0.52–0.58, in agreement with previously published work. Using a calculated ratio R, analysis of variance demonstrated that the ratio was significantly higher in the osteoporotic group compared with the other two groups. This implied that heel ultrasound values are proportionately lower in the osteoporotic group compared with the other two groups for an equivalent value of lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD. We conclude that postmenopausal bone loss is not associated with different ultasound values once lumbar spine or femoral neck BMD is taken into account. Ultrasound does not give additional information about patterns of bone loss in postmenopausal patients but is important in those patients with osteoporosis and fractures.     

喝牛奶与绝经后妇女骨密度关系的临床研究

目的 探讨喝牛奶与绝经后妇女骨密度的相关性。方法 随机选择1478例福州汉族绝经后妇女,喝牛奶组795例,不喝牛奶组683例,双能X线骨密度仪测定腰椎、股骨颈、大转子和Ward区骨密度,SPSS 18.0统计软件分析喝牛奶与不同部位骨密度的关系。结果 ①喝牛奶组与不喝牛奶组两组比较,结果为年龄、体重、质量指数有差异。②腰椎骨密度与年龄、体重指数、喝牛奶、体重进行逐步回归分析（y=0.843-0.003×年龄-0.010×BMI+0.006×体重+0.016×喝牛奶,β=0.392,回归系数t检验P=0.000）,体重对腰椎骨密度影响较大。③体重、体重指数、年龄为协变量,喝牛奶为变量,行协方差分析,喝牛奶组腰椎BMD（0.754±0.138g/cm2）明显高于不喝牛奶组（0.742±0.113g/cm2）,统计学有显著性差异(F=5.935,P=0.015),股骨颈骨密度无差异。④喝牛奶组骨质疏松患病率为69.18%,不喝牛奶组患病率为71.16%,两者比较无差异（P=0.42）。结论 喝牛奶可维持绝经后女性腰椎高骨密度,这类人群适量饮用牛奶,一定程度上,具有预防骨质疏松的作用。     

Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) consumption is associated with higher bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) tea consumption is higher in Argentina and other South American countries than those of coffee or tea (Camellia sinensis). The effects of Yerba Mate on bone health have not previously been explored. From a program for osteoporosis prevention and treatment, postmenopausal women who drank at least 1 L of Yerba Mate tea daily during 4 or more years (n = 146) were identified, and matched by age and time since menopause with an equal number of women who did not drink Yerba Mate tea. Their bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Yerba Mate drinkers had a 9.7% higher lumbar spine BMD (0.952 g/cm² versus 0.858 g/cm²: p < 0.0001) and a 6.2% higher femoral neck BMD (0.817 g/cm² versus 0.776 g/cm²; p = 0.0002). In multiple regression analysis, Yerba Mate drinking was the only factor, other than body mass index, which showed a positive correlation with BMD at both the lumbar spine (p < 0.0001) and the femoral neck (p = 0.0028). Results suggest a protective effect of chronic Yerba Mate consumption on bone.     

腰椎间盘突出对绝经后妇女骨密度的影响分析

目的探讨腰椎间盘突出对绝经后妇女骨密度的影响。方法随机选择绝经后妇女进行问卷调查,内容包括身高、体重、是否有腰椎间盘突出、生活习惯、健康状况等;用双能X线骨密度仪测定腰椎、髋部骨密度,并利用SPSS 20.0统计软件对数据进行分析。结果共筛选入组582例,腰椎间盘突出组133例、腰椎间盘无突出组449例。对各因素与骨质疏松的相关性分析,腰椎间盘突出与腰椎椎体骨密度具有负相关(r=-0.094,P=0.023);两组一般资料比较,日光照射、腰椎骨密度差异比较有统计学意义(P0.05);协方差分析,腰椎间盘无突出组腰椎骨密度(0.734±0.123)g/cm~2明显高于腰椎间盘突出组腰椎骨密度(0.707±0.123)g/cm~2,差异有统计学意义(F=3.968,P=0.047),髋部骨密度差异无统计学意义(P0.05);两组骨质疏松患病率比较,腰椎间盘突出组为55.6%,腰椎间盘无突出组为43.7%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P=0.015)。结论腰椎间盘突出能够引起腰椎骨量流失,是引起骨质疏松发生的影响因素。     

颈动脉内膜中层厚度和绝经后妇女骨密度相关性研究

目的探讨绝经后骨质疏松症患者颈动脉内膜中层厚度(CIMT)的差异及CIMT和斑块增大的风险。方法进行横断面研究,包括60位绝经后骨质疏松症妇女和60位非骨质疏松症绝经后妇女。CIMT采用B型超声测量。结果绝经后骨质疏松症妇女与无骨质疏松症妇女的平均CIMT差异无统计学意义(P 0.05)。骨质疏松症组CIMT升高的风险与非骨质疏松症组相似。骨质疏松症妇女斑块出现的风险是正常人的三倍。然而,调整了易使妇女患有心血管疾病的年龄和基础疾病后,两组之间斑块的存在并无显着差异(校正比值比=0.85;95%可信区间0.10～6.464)。结论绝经后妇女与无骨质疏松症患者的平均CIMT无差异。绝经后骨质疏松症女性的CIMT升高风险与无骨质疏松症的绝经后妇女相当。两组之间斑块的存在没有显着差异。     

绝经后妇女骨质疏松性椎体骨折与腰椎骨密度的关系

目的探讨绝经后妇女骨质疏松性椎体骨折与腰椎骨密度的关系。方法选择骨质疏松性椎体骨折的绝经后妇女23例为骨折组,无椎体骨折的25例绝经后骨质疏松妇女为对照组。两组的年龄、绝经年限、身高、体重、体重指数差异无显著性,均行胸腰椎正侧位X线摄片。用双能X线吸收仪（DXA）测量的腰椎（L2-4）前后位骨密度（BMD）、骨矿含量（BMC）和T值。结果骨折组BMD、BMC和T值均低于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论腰椎BMD降低与绝经后妇女的骨质疏松性椎体骨折相关。绝经后骨质疏松妇女应重视BMD变化,预防椎体骨折的发生。     

利塞膦酸钠干预绝经后妇女骨量的研究(附223例报告）

目的评价口服利塞膦酸钠对绝经后妇女骨量变化的干预作用。方法223名绝经后妇女随机分为两组:A组(利塞膦酸钠,5mg/d,口服)和B组(安慰剂,每天1片),所有患者每天补充钙剂500mg和维生素D200IU,治疗1年。腰椎和髋部(包括股骨颈、转子间和Ward三角)骨量双能X骨密度测量分别于治疗前、治疗6个月和12个月时进行。结果所有患者为骨量减少,治疗前患者的一般情况和骨量两组间无差异。治疗结束后,利塞膦酸钠组患者腰椎和股骨颈的骨量较安慰剂对照组明显上升(P<0.05)。结论口服利塞膦酸钠可显著提高腰椎和髋部骨量,有效防治绝经后骨质疏松。     

The prevalence of significant left-right differences in hip bone mineral density

Introduction We determined the prevalence of left-right differences in hip bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and the resultant consequence, namely: the frequency at which patients would be classified differently if lumbar spine and only one hip (rather than both hips) were measured.Methods This was a retrospective DXA scan reanalysis of 3012 white women ≥50 yrs who had scans of both hips using Hologic DXA systems. The difference between left and right hips was considered significant if it exceeded the least significant change (LSC) for any of three hip subregions (total hip, femoral neck, trochanter). The number of women with osteoporosis in both hips, the left hip only, or the right hip only was determined by lowest T-score from total hip, femoral neck, or trochanter.Results Despite high left-right correlations of subregion BMD, significant left-right differences in BMD were common: the difference exceeded the LSC for 47% of women at total hip, 31% at femoral neck, and 56% at trochanter. Left-right differences in BMD that exceeded the LSC affected the percent agreement of left-right hip classification: for all women irrespective of spine status, there was 77% classification (diagnostic) agreement in hip pairs in which the left-right hip BMD difference exceeded the LSC versus 87% agreement in which LSC was not exceeded (significant difference in proportions, P<0.0001). The greatest risk of different classification would occur in women with normal spines as the diagnosis might be determined by hip T-scores. Using L1-4 lumbar spine T-scores, 1229 women were normal at the spine. Twenty-four (2%) were osteoporotic at both hips. However, 12 women (1%) were osteoporotic only in the left hip (significantly different from zero, P<0.001) and 11 (1%) only in the right hip (P<0.001); of these 23 women, the difference in BMD between the osteoporotic hip and the contralateral hip exceeded the LSC in 16 (70% of those with osteoporosis in only one hip). Using L1-4 lumbar spine T-scores, 1159 women were osteopenic at the spine. Of these, 126 (11%) were osteoporotic at both hips, 54 (5%) only in the left hip (P<0.001), and 42 (4%) only in the right hip (P<0.001); of these 96 women, the difference in BMD between the osteoporotic hip and the contralateral hip exceeded the LSC in 56 (58% of those with osteoporosis in only one hip).Conclusions A statistically significant number of women with osteoporosis are potentially classified differently when scanning only one hip as a result of the high prevalence of left-right differences in BMD. Although the percentages are low, the total number of women affected may be large. From a public health perspective, the practice of scanning both hips could potentially identify more women with osteoporosis and may help prevent future hip fractures.     

新疆乌鲁木齐市某社区维吾尔族女性跟骨骨密度与代谢综合征相关性分析

目的探索代谢综合征(MS)与不同年龄及代谢状态下维吾尔族女性定量骨超声检测跟骨骨密度(T值)与其之间的相关性。方法横断面研究,对象为新疆乌鲁木齐市二道桥某社区常住维族女性。按年龄分组,观察不同年龄段维族女性骨量的变化。按中华医学会糖尿病分会(CDS)[1]诊断MS的诊断标准,将549名女性分为高血压组136例,血压正常组413例;糖尿病组103例,血糖正常组446例;单纯肥胖或超重组290例,体重正常组259例;血脂紊乱组157例,血脂正常组392例;MS组86例,非MS组463例。根据既往史是否绝经分为未绝经组339例,绝经组182例;并用线性回归分析,研究跟骨骨密度的独立影响因素。结果高血压、糖代谢异常、MS组骨量T值均低于其代谢正常组,差异有统计学意义(均P0.05);高血压、糖代谢异常、超重或肥胖、MS组骨量减少、骨质疏松的患病率均高于其代谢正常组,差异有统计学意义(均P0.05);按年龄分组,不同组间T值不完全相同,随年龄增长,骨量减少的患病率升高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);按是否合并绝经分组,绝经组骨量减少、骨质疏松的患病率明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 MS作为多种代谢异常的症候群,骨量减少的患病率高,是骨质疏松发生的高风险人群。绝经是女性骨量减少的独立危险因素。     

Competitive physical activity early in life is associated with bone mineral density in elderly Swedish men

Summary  In this population-based study of 75-year-old men (n = 498), we investigated the association between physical activity (PA) early in life and present bone mineral density (BMD). We demonstrate that a high frequency of competitive sports early in life is associated with BMD at several bone sites, indicating that increases in BMD following PA are preserved longer than previously believed. Introduction  Physical activity (PA) increases bone mineral density (BMD) during growth. It is unclear if the positive effects remain at old age. In this study, we aimed to determine if PA early in life was associated with BMD in elderly men. Methods  In this population-based study, 498 men, 75.2 ± 3.3 (mean±SD) years old, were included. BMD was assessed using DXA. Data concerning lifetime PA, including both competitive (CS) and recreational sports (RS), and occupational physical load (OPL), were collected at interview. Results  Subjects in the highest frequency group of CS in the early period (10–35 years), had higher BMD at the total body (4.2%, p < 0.01), total hip (7.0%, p < 0.01), trochanter (8.7%, p < 0.01), and lumbar spine (7.9%, p < 0.01), than subjects not involved in CS. A stepwise linear regression model showed that frequency of CS in the early period independently positively predicted present BMD at the total body (β = 0.12, p < 0.01), total hip (β = 0.11, p < 0.01), trochanter (β = 0.12, p < 0.01), and lumbar spine (β = 0.11, p = 0.01). Conclusions  We demonstrate that PA in CS early in life is associated with BMD in 75-year-old Swedish men, indicating that increases in BMD following PA are preserved longer than previously believed. This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council, the ALF/LUA grant from the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and the Hjalmar Svensson Foundation.     

Association of red blood cell 5-methyltetrahydrfoate folate with bone mineral density in postmenopausal Iranian women

Recent studies have suggested that hyperhomocystenemia and low plasma folate are associated with fracture and also bone mineral density (BMD) and that they may contribute to the pathogenicity of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. However, as plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and plasma folate can be regarded as short-term markers when compared to a long-term variable such as BMD, in this study we tested the hypothesis that low red blood cell 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (RBC 5-MTHFR) as a long-term marker of the folate status may be a better predictor of BMD than plasma 5-MTHF, and its deficiency may contribute to the pathogenecity of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Iranian women. The BMD at the femoral neck and lumbar spine (measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, DXA) together with anthropometric and biochemical components of the homocysteine re-methylation pathway including plasma tHcy, 5-MTHF and vitamin B12, RBC 5-MTHF and creatinine were determined in 366 postmenopausal women. RBC 5-MTHF was more highly correlated with BMD at the lumbar spine ( r =0.21, P =0.001) and femoral neck ( r =0.19, P =0.004) than was plasma 5-MTHF (lumbar spine; r =0.14, P =0.03 and femoral neck; r =0.17, P =0.006). Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses revealed that RBC 5-MTHF was one of the predictors of BMD explaining 4.3 and 4.0% variance of BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, respectively, whereas plasma 5-MTHF was excluded in the model and not determined to be a predictor of BMD at both the lumbar spine and femoral neck when adjusted for age, BMI, years since menopause and RBC 5-MTHF. This study suggests that RBC 5-MTHF is a better predictor of BMD than plasma 5-MTHFR when compared to a long-term marker such as BMD, and its deficiency is associated with low BMD that may contribute to the pathogenecity of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.     

定量超声检测对绝经后骨质疏松症的应用价值

目的评价定量超声检测技术(QUS)对绝经后骨质疏松症的临床应用价值。方法 88例绝经后女性分别使用QUS测量左跟骨T值、双能X线吸收法(DXA)测量L1-4及髋部骨密度、T值,采用Spearman分析两种检测方法相关性。以DXA法诊断骨质疏松症(OP)为金标准,分析QUS诊断OP的ROC曲线下面积、cutoff、灵敏度、特异度、符合率、Youden指数。结果相关分析显示,QUS测量左跟骨与DXA测量L1、L2、L3、股骨颈、大转子、全髋T值相关系数分别为0.244、0.252、0.371、0.485、0.539、0.506(P0.05或P0.01);ROC曲线下面积0.669,以QUS测量T值-2.35为cutoff,QUS诊断OP的灵敏度、特异度、符合率、Youden指数分别为69.1%、65.0%、64.77%、0.341。结论 QUS与DXA检测骨密度存在相关性,可作为OP的筛查工具,但诊断效能一般,不可替代DXA检查。     

绝经后妇女血脂水平与骨密度的关系

目的 明确绝经后妇女血脂水平与骨密度有否联系。方法 测定85例绝经后妇女的甘油三酯和胆固醇水平，双能X线法测定腰椎k2-4和股骨颈的骨密度(BMD)。结果 与未绝经妇女相比，绝经后妇女甘油三酯(t=3．74，P=0．000)和胆固醇(t=3．75，P=0．000)水平均显著升高；而BMD腰椎k(t=2．43，P=0．017)和股骨颈(t=3．32，P=0．002)均显著降低；绝经后妇女甘油三酯水平与股骨颈的BMD经BMI校正后有显著负相关，偏相关系数r=-0．324，P=0．003；而与腰椎k2-4 BMD无相关。胆固醇水平则与股骨颈及腰椎k2-4的BMD均无相关性。结论 绝经后妇女甘油三酯水平的升高可能是绝经后骨量减少及骨质疏松发生的因素之一。     

A referent bone mineral density database for Chinese American women

Introduction While osteoporosis is common among women of Chinese descent, a readily available bone mineral density (BMD) referent database for Chinese American women does not exist. Fracture risk among this population is currently assessed using a Caucasian reference as well as diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis developed for postmenopausal Caucasian women. Many studies indicate that there are important racial differences in skeletal health and fracture risk, an observation that makes the application of Caucasian data to all groups problematical. This study was undertaken to establish a BMD referent database in Chinese American women and to compare it with a Caucasian female database. It is expected that a race-specific database will be useful in the assessment of bone health for Chinese American women. Methods Healthy Chinese American women (n=359), ages 20–90, were recruited. Along with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the total hip and lumbar spine, demographic, medical, familial, nutritional, and behavioral data were obtained. The mean and standard deviation for BMD at each site was calculated for each 10-year age group and compared to mean BMD values for Caucasian women supplied as found in the Hologic DXA instrument. Osteoporosis diagnosis rates for this cohort, calculated with the Caucasian and newly established Chinese American BMD referent values, were compared with each other. Results Compared with Caucasian women, Chinese American women have significantly lower BMD at the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck across a wide spectrum of age groups. As a consequence, more than one-half of Chinese American women ≥50 years of age, who would be characterized as osteoporotic using a Caucasian referent, would not be diagnosed as such if a Chinese American referent were utilized. Conclusion Chinese American reference BMD values are significantly lower than those for Caucasian women. Future studies relating Chinese American BMD values to fracture risk are necessary in order to determine if ethnic database-derived T-scores would be more predictive of fracture risk and to develop meaningful diagnostic criteria for this population.     

Early postmenopausal diminution of forearm and spinal bone mineral density: A cross-sectional study

Diminution of bone mineral density (BMD) in the spine and forearm was studied cross-sectionally in 363 women who were 6 months to 10 years postmenopausal. BMD was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic QDR-2000) in the lumbar spine, in both the supine lateral (LAT) and anteroposterior (AP) projections, and in the distal third of the forearm. The postmenopausal diminution of BMD was best described by an exponential fit. The initial rate of postmenopausal diminution of BMD was highest in the most trabecular sites (LAT>AP> forearm), but 10-year diminution was similar at all sites (12%–13%, corresponding to about 1.0–1.5 SD), and extrapolation suggested reverse order of the rates of diminution thereafter (forearm>AP>LAT). When bone mineral content of the entire L3 vertebra (tBMC) was measured in vivo, AP tBMC could account for only 67% of the variation in LAT tBMC, compared withr ²=0.997 in vitro. This observation suggests an accuracy problem in vivo in one of the spine measurement methods. We conclude that the initial rate of BMD diminution after the menopause seems to be highest in the spine, especially when measured laterally, but that this rate levels off within the first decade. The lower precision error of a forearm measurement (0.8% v 1.6 for AP and 3.1 for LAT) therefore implies that this method may require a shorter observation period than spine measurements for the detection of bone loss 5–10 years after menopause. Long-term longitudinal spine and forearm measurements are, however, needed to confirm these conclusions.