[The relationship between bone mass and the skin fold thickness in Chinese Hans]

In this paper is reported an investigation on the relationship between bone mass (bone mass content, BMC, bone mass density, BMD) and the skin fold thickness of anterior superior iliac spine and abdomen in Chinese Hans residing in Ji'nan. From Jan. to Dec. 2006, 287 healthy volunteers (M116, F171; mean age 37.3 +/- 17.4 yrs) were recruited in Ji'nan Maternity And Child Care Hospital. BMC and BMD of all subjects were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The skin fold thickness of anterior superior iliac spine and of abdomen were measured. Correlation analyses on BMC and BMD of the skin fold thickness(anterior superior iliac spine and abdomen) were made with respect to partial correlation. The results showed a linearity positive correlation between bone mass and the skin fold thickness (anterior superior iliac spine and abdomen). Being adjusted for gender and age, the correlation coefficients of the skin fold thickness (anterior superior iliac spine and abdomen) with BMD and BMC in all parts of body; extremitas superior, extremitas inferior, pars trunci, ribs, pelvis and backbone of Pearson coefficients of correlation were 0.281 and 0.235, 0.175 and 0.150, 0.182 and 0.137, 0.245 and 0.198, 0.326 and 0.269, 0.299 and 0.261, 0.296 and 0.247, 0.322 and 0.279, 0.324 and 0.267, 0.341 and 0.293, 0.290 and 0.235, 0.220 and 0.194, 0.245 and 0.221 (P < 0.05). There is a positive relationship between the skin fold thickness (anterior superior iliac spine and abdomen) and bone mass (BMC and BMD) in Chinese Hans.