Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sex differences in the acquisition of total bone mineral mass peak assessed through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

  • Clinical Investigations
  • Published:
Calcified Tissue International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry evaluation of total body bone mineral content (TBBM), total bone mineral density (TBMD), and regional bone mineral content (BMC) (head, trunk, arms, and legs) was carried out in order to assess sex differences of bone in 120 women and 121 men aged 15–29 years. Subjects from both sexes were divided into 5-year groups (15 through 19, 20 through 24, and 25 through 29 years old, respectively). Significantly higher values for TBBM, TBMD, and regional BMC were observed in males compared with females in the 20 to 24 and 25 to 29-year-old groups (P<0.001), but not in the group aged 15–19. After adjusting TBBM for lean body mass (LBM), we observed significantly lower values of TBBM/LBM in the males compared with females in all the age groups. A positive and significant correlation was observed between TBBM and age in the males of all the groups (r=0.624, P<0.001), but not in the females. These data suggest that total bone mass peak acquisition takes place earlier in women than in men, leading to more reduced bone mass value, which in turn may be an osteoporosis predisposing factor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Eastell R, Riggs BL (1987) Treatment of osteoporosis. Obster Gynecol Clin North Am 14:77–88

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gallagher JC (1990) The pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Bone Miner 9:215–217

    Google Scholar 

  3. Nordin BEC, Polley KJ (1987) Metabolic consequences of the menopause. Calcif Tissue Int 41 (suppl):S1-S59

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gallagher JC, Godgar D, Moy A (1987) Total body calcium in normal women: effect of age and menopause status. J Bone Miner Res 2:491–496

    Google Scholar 

  5. Stevenson JC (1990) Pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis. Obstet Gynecol 75:S36-S41

    Google Scholar 

  6. Arnaud CD, Sanchez SD (1990) The role of calcium in osteoporosis. Ann Rev Nutr 10:397–414

    Google Scholar 

  7. Seeman E (1990) Reduced peak bone mass in osteoporosis. Bone Miner 10:S269

    Google Scholar 

  8. Geusens P, Nils J, Dequeker J (1990) Total body and local bone mass measurements in a normal population and in osteoporosis. In: Christiansen C, Overgaard K (eds). Osteoporosis 1990. Osteopres ApS. Kobenhavn, pp 724–725

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gotfredsen A, Podenphant J, Nilas L, Christiansen C (1989) Discriminative ability of total body bone mineral by dual photon absorptiometry. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 49:125–134

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sartoris DJ, Resnick D (1989) Dual energy radiographic absorptiometry for bone densitometry: current status and perspective. AJR 152:241–246

    Google Scholar 

  11. Nord RH, Payne RK (1990) A new technique for improved DXA whole body measurements. In: Christiansen C, Overgaard K (eds). Osteoporosis 1990. Osteopress ApS, Kobenhavn, pp 536–539

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mazess RB, Peppler WW, Chesney RW, Lange TA, Lindgren U, Smith E (1984) Total body and regional bone mineral by dual-photon absorptiometry in metabolic disease. Calcif Tissue Int 36:8–13

    Google Scholar 

  13. Adams P, Davies GT, Sweetman P (1970) Osteoporosis and the effect of ageing on bone in elderly men and women. Q J Med 39:601–615

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gilsanz V, Gibbens DT, Roe TF, Carlson M, Senac MD, Boechat MI, Huang HK, Schultz EE, Libanati CR, Cann ChC (1988) Vertebral bone density in children: effect of puberty. Radiology 166:47–850

    Google Scholar 

  15. Johnston CC, Melton LJ, Lindsay R, Eddy DM (1989) Clinical indications for bone mass measurements. J Bone Miner Res 4 (suppl 2):1–28

    Google Scholar 

  16. Trotter M, Broman GE, Peterson RR (1960) Densities of bones of white and Negro skeletons, J Bone Jt Surg 42A:50–58

    Google Scholar 

  17. Heaney RP (1990) Bone mass and osteoporotic fractures. Calcif Tissue Int 47:63–65

    Google Scholar 

  18. Need AG, Nordin BEC (1990) Which bone to measure? Osteoporosis Int 1:3–6

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mazess RB, Peppler WW, Harrison JE, McNeill KG (1981) Total body bone mineral and lean body mass by dual-photon absorptiometry. III. Comparison with trunk calcium by neutron activation analysis. Calcif Tissue Int 33:365–368

    Google Scholar 

  20. Dequeker J, Geusens P (1990) Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 49:276–280

    Google Scholar 

  21. Marel G, Hooper M, Clifton-Bligh P, Nery L, White B, Nguyen G. (1990) In vivo and in vitro comparison of 2 methods for dual X-ray bone densitometry (DEXA) of the spine: improved precision may be achieved at the expense of reduced accuracy at high and low BMCs. In: Christiansen C, Overgaard K (eds). Osteoporosis 1990. Osteopress ApS. Kobenhavn, pp 478–481

    Google Scholar 

  22. Stevenson JC (1988) Osteoporosis: pathogenesis and risk factor. Bailliere's Clin Endocrinol Metab 2:87–101

    Google Scholar 

  23. Rico H (1990) Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In: Nordin BEC (ed). Osteoporosis: contributions to modern management. Parthenon Publisher Group, Lancaster, pp 39–46

    Google Scholar 

  24. Gilsanz V, Gibbens DT, Carlson M, Boechat MI, Cann CE, Schultz EE (1988) Peak trabecular vertebral density: a comparison of a dolescent and adult female. Calcif Tissue Int 43:260–262

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rodin A, Murby B, Smith MA, Caleffi M, Fentiman I, Chapman MG, Fogelman I (1990) Premenopausal bone loss in the lumbar spine and neck of femur: a study of 225 Causasian women. Bone 11:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  26. Rosenthall DI, Mayo-Smith W, Hayes CW, Khurana JS, Biller BMK, Neer RM, Klibanski A (1989) Age and bone mass in premenopausal women. J Bone Miner Res 4:533–538

    Google Scholar 

  27. Haliova L, Anderson JJB (1990) Age and anthropometric determinants of radial bone mass in premenopausal Causasian women: a cross-sectional study. Osteoporosis Int 1:50–55

    Google Scholar 

  28. Buchanan JR, Myers C, Lloyd T, Greer RB (1988) Early vertebral trabecular bone loss in normal premenopausal women. J Bone Miner Res 3:583–587

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kelly PJ, Pocock NA, Sambrook PN, Eisman JA (1989) Age and menopause-related changes in indices of bone turnover. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 69:1160–1165

    Google Scholar 

  30. Johnston CC, Longcope C (1990) Premenopausal bone loss. A risk factor for osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 323:1271–1273

    Google Scholar 

  31. Block JE, Smith R, Glueer CC, Steiger P, Ettinger G, Genant H (1989) Models of spinal trabecular bone loss as determined by quantitative computed tomography. J Bone Miner Res 4:249–257

    Google Scholar 

  32. Gotfredsen A, Hadberg A, Nilas L, Christiansen C (1987) Total body bone mineral in healthy adults. J Lab Clin Med 110:362–368

    Google Scholar 

  33. Mazess RB, Barden HS, Drinka PJ, Bauwens SF, Orwoll ES, Bell NH (1990) Influence of age and body weight on spine and femur mineral density in U.S. white men. J Bone Miner Res 5:645–652

    Google Scholar 

  34. Jackson JA, Kleerekoper M (1990) Osteoporosis in men: diagnosis, pathophysiology, and prevention. Medicine 69:137–152

    Google Scholar 

  35. Geusens P, Dequejer J, Verstraeten A, Hijs J (1986) Age-, sex-, and menopause-related changes of vertebral and peripheral bone: population study using dual and single photon absorptiometry and radiogrammetry. J Nucl Med 27:1540–1549

    Google Scholar 

  36. Bevier WC, Viswell RA, Pyka G, Kozak KC, Newhall KM, Marcus R (1989) Relationship of body composition, muscle strength, and aerobic capacity to bone mineral density in older men and women. J Bone Miner Res 4:421–432

    Google Scholar 

  37. Colleti LA, Edwards J, Gordon L, Shary J, Bell NH (1989) The effect of muscle-building exercise on bone mineral density of the radius, spine, and hip in young men. Calcif Tissue Int 45: 12–14

    Google Scholar 

  38. DeSimone DP, Stevens J, Edwards J, Shari J, Gordon L, Bell NH (1989) Influence of body habitus and race on bone mineral density of the midradius, hip, and spine in aging women. J Bone Miner Res 4:827–830

    Google Scholar 

  39. Albright F, Butter AM, Hampton AD, Smith P (1937) Syndrome characterized by osteitis fibrosa disseminata, areas of pigmentation and endocrine dysfunction, with precocious puberty in females. N Engl J Med 216:727–746

    Google Scholar 

  40. Matkovic V, Fontana D, Tominac C, Goel P, Chesnut CH (1990). Factors that influence peak bone mass formation: a study of calcium balance and the inheritance of bone mass in adolescent females. Am J Clin Nutr 52:878–888

    Google Scholar 

  41. Kelly PJ, Twomey L, Sambrook PN, Eisman JA (1990) Sex differences in peak adult bone mineral density. J Bone Miner Res 5:1169–1175

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Rheumatology Unit, Príncipe de Asturias Hospital, Alcalá de Henares University, 28801, Madrid, Spain

    H. Rico, M. Revilla, L. F. Villa & Ma del Buergo

  2. Department of Morphological Science and Surgery, Alcalá de Henares University, Madrid, Spain

    E. R. Hernandez

Authors
  1. H. Rico
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Revilla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. R. Hernandez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. F. Villa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ma del Buergo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rico, H., Revilla, M., Hernandez, E.R. et al. Sex differences in the acquisition of total bone mineral mass peak assessed through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Calcif Tissue Int 51, 251–254 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334483

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334483

Key words

Search

Navigation