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Published on: January 29, 2018
Race/ethnic differences in bone mineral densities in older men
1Department of Preventive Medicine, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
Summary
Bone mineral density (BMD) varies significantly across racial and ethnic groups in men. Body size plays a crucial role in explaining BMD differences, particularly between Caucasian and Asian men.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Bone Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Limited epidemiologic data exists on bone mineral density (BMD) across diverse male populations globally.
- Understanding racial/ethnic variations in BMD is crucial for assessing osteoporosis risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare bone mineral density (BMD) levels across seven distinct race/ethnic groups of men in four countries.
- To investigate the influence of body size on observed BMD differences between racial/ethnic groups.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed, comparing BMD in men aged 65-78 years.
- Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the femoral neck, total hip, and lumbar spine.
- Data were collected from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study, Tobago Bone Health Study, MrOS Hong Kong Study, and Namwon Study.
Main Results:
- Afro-Caribbean and African-American men exhibited higher age-adjusted BMD compared to US Caucasian men.
- US Asian, Hong Kong Chinese, and South Korean men generally showed lower BMD than US Caucasian men.
- Adjusting for weight and height significantly reduced or reversed BMD differences between US Caucasian and Asian men.
Conclusions:
- Substantial race/ethnic variations in BMD exist, even within African and Asian populations.
- Body size is a significant factor influencing BMD disparities between different racial/ethnic groups, especially Asian men.
- These findings highlight the need to consider body size in race/ethnic comparisons of bone health.
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