Epidemiological study on the bone mineral density of inhabitants in Miyama Village, Wakayama prefecture (Part II) bone mineral density of the spine and proximal femur

Reference values of bone mineral density (BMD) have mainly been based on hospital volunteers in Japan. Consequently, these values may be inappropriate for the use as a standard in the osteoporotic study. In order to establish reference values, BMD was measured of 400 age-stratified inhabitants of Miyama Village, utilizing dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The mean BMD of L2–L4 in males in each age group was 1.19±0.16 g/cm² (mean±standard deviation) in 40's, 1.15±0.19 g/cm² in 50's, 1.03±0.18 g/cm² in 60's and 1.06±0.25 g/cm² in 70's. The difference of BMD was statistically significant between the 50 and 60 age groups. On the other hand, in females the mean BMD of L2–L4 was 1.18±0.16 g/cm² in 40's; 0.99±0.18 g/cm² in 50's, 0.84±0.19 g/cm² in 60's and 0.78±0.17 g/cm² in 70's. The BMD was significantly lower in the 50 age group than in the 40 age group and was similarly lower in the 60 age group than in the 50 age group.