Bone reinforcement lines and osteoporosis: an overlooked trait useful for physical anthropologists?

Bone reinforcement lines are rarely examined traits visible on X-rays that correlate with chronic osteopenia and osteoporosis. In this study, through the use of humeral X-rays taken from 109 prehistoric Californian Native American remains, the relationships between bone reinforcement lines and average cortical bone thickness, sex, and age are examined. Results revealed that individuals with bone reinforcement lines were likely to have lower average cortical bone thickness. Bone reinforcement lines were also more often found in females than in males. Furthermore, the lines increased in frequency with age. Bioarchaeologists and paleopathologists may use bone reinforcement lines to compare bone loss across populations and time. Osteologists should consider investigating whether bone reinforcement lines are a systemic adaptation to prevent fractures in osteoporotic individuals. Forensic anthropologists may be able to use these correlations along with other skeletal traits to help determine the identity of a victim. More research is needed to examine the permanence of bone reinforcement lines within an individuals life.