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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Associates of bone mineral density in older African Americans
John Robbins1, Calvin Hirsch, Jane Cauley
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA. jarobbins@ucdavis.edu
Objectives:
To assess correlates of bone mineral density (BMD) in older African Americans.
Participants:
189 women and 115 men over age 64.
Methods:
Variables investigated: BMD by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), medications, cardiovascular disease risk factors, demographic, lifestyle factors and functional status. Variables showing univariate correlation with BMD (p < or = 0.1) were entered into sex-stratified linear regression models.
Results:
Age range 67-96 (mean 75). The mean BMD (gm/ cm2 +/- standard deviation) is reported for three sites. Total body: 1.03 (+/- 0.12) in women, 1.21 (+/- 0.11) in men. Spine: 1.05 (+/- 0.24) in women, 1.22 (+/- 0.26) in men. Total hip: 0.85 (+/- 0.15) in women, 1.04 (+/- 0.17) in men. Gender was significantly associated with BMD (t-test, p < 0.001). The R2 for tested variables were highly significant only for weight. Age was only significant for total hip in women (p < 0.05). Each kilogram of weight change was associated with a 5.3-6.8 mg/cm2 change in BMD.
Conclusions:
In a population-based cohort of older African Americans, average BMD was significantly greater in men than women. Weight accounted for most of the explained variability (R2) in BMD; age added little to the overall R2. Lower-weight, older African-American men and women are at significantly increased risk for low BMD and, thus, likely to be at greater risk for osteoporotic fracture.
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