[Anthropometric factors in the prevention of osteoporosis]

Osteoporosis, an important health problem, essentially concerns postmenopausal women since women have a lower peak bone mass than men when they reach adulthood and since the menopause is associated with an accelerated bone loss. We retrospectively analysed the bone measurements of 318 women, age less than 50. The bone mineral contents and densities of the mid- and distal radius (BMC m-rad, BMD m-rad, BMC d-rad, BMD d-rad) and of the lumbar L2-L4 vertebra (BMC L2-L4, BMD L2-L4) were measured using single and dual photon absorptiometer, respectively. The relations between age, height, weight, body mass index and the bone measurements were studied using multiple regression analyses. The anthropometric factors were accepted as first factors in the equations. R2 were respectively 17%, 17%, 28% for BMC m-rad, BMC d-rad, BMC L2-L4 and 7%, 5%, 8% for BMD m-rad, BMD d-rad, BMD L2-L4. These data suggest that anthropometric factors have an important influence on the different bone measurements. They also draw attention on the importance of preventive measures to achieve and to maintain an optimal bone reserve in premenopausal women.