Quantification of bone mineral content using dual-photon absorptiometry in a normal Japanese population

Abstract

The bone mineral content of lumbar spine and/or total body were quantified in 217 healthy Japanese (86 males and 131 females) using a Dichromatic Bone Densitometer (Norland Corp., Model 2600). The bone mineral density of the third lumbar vertebra (L3 BMD) decreased significantly after age 20 in males (r = ‐0.417, p < 0.0002), with acceleration of the decrease after age 50 (r = ‐0.621, p < 0.00002). A significant correlation was found between L3 BMD and age after age 40 (r = ‐0.747, p < 0.00001) in females. L3 BMD correlated with both the body height (r = 0.335, p < 0.0001) and the body weight (r = 0.340, p < 0.0001). Total bone mineral content from the second to fourth lumbar vertebrae correlated significantly with total body bone mineral (r = 0.880, p < 0.00001) in these normal subjects. Lumbar spine bone mineral as measured by dual‐photon absorptiometry is lower in Japan than the bone mass in the United States, although not lower than in other parts of the world.