Bone mineral status of Polish men in the course of normal ageing

Age-related changes in the bone mineral content (BMC) of men are conditioned by both genetic and environmental factors distinctive for particular populations. This results in considerable differences between various populations concerning the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis, and the occurrence of normal variability in BMC among adult and elderly men. The aim of the study was to evaluate the variation of BMC with age in an ethnically homogenous sample of 405 healthy men, aged 20-60 years, all occupationally active inhabitants of the city of Wroclaw, Lower Silesia, Poland. Trabecular and total BMC at the ultradistal radius of the nondominant hand were assessed by peripheral quantitative computerized tomography using the Stratec 960 densitometer. Among Polish men a distinct phase of maximal BMC values (around the age of 30) was distinguished, with a subsequent, quite rapid decline in bone mass. For example, the peak value of trabecular BMC decreased by approximately 13.2% per decade. In Polish men up to 30-34 years old trabecular and total BMC even exceeded reference values by 10%; however, from 35 years onwards their BMC was lower than standard values. This unfavourable phenomenon of BMC decline was augmented with age, and finally BMC values in men aged 55 and over were 30-35% lower than reference values. The significant discrepancies found between the data presented in this study and reference values probably result from inter-populational differences in the lifestyles of healthy ageing men. The results also confirm that bone density (with its age-related changes in the course of normal male ageing) is one of the biological features characteristic of this particular regional population.