Bone mass in Zaireans: radiogrammetric determination

Bone mass was measured in 230 subjects with ages ranging from 15 to 54 years (110 males and 120 females), using the radiogrammetric method on the second metacarpal bone. Results of the study show that bone mass increases with age up to 34 years and then decreases, both in males and females, although males have significantly higher values than females. The decrease is however more marked in females than in males.