Influence of weight and seasonal changes on radiogrammetry and bone densitometry

We studied the behavior of radiogrammetric and densitometric measurements in relation to season and body weight in a group of 30 healthy premenopausal women. Measurements were made at 6-month intervals, in summer/fall when bone density increases and in winter/spring when bone density declines. Total body bone mineral content (TBBMC) and regional bone mineral content (RBMC) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Metacarpal radiogrammetry was carried out with computed radiography. Weight and body mass index increased significantly in winter (P < 0.05) and total body and RBMC decreased (P < 0.001). The opposite occurred in summer: weight and body mass index decreased significantly (P < 0.05) and total body and regional bone mineral content increased (P < 0.001). Differences in TBBMC persisted when the measurement was corrected for weight (TBBMC/W) (P < 0.001), but not for metacarpal cortical thickness corrected for weight. In the first measurement made there were significant relations between weight and both TBBMC (P < 0.001) and metacarpal cortical thickness (P < 0.005). The relation between weight and TBBMC remained significant in later measurements, but the relation between weight and metacarpal cortical thickness ceased to be significant in the second and fourth measurements. Our results show that there is an important seasonal variation in bone mass and that DXA is more sensitive than radiogrammetry in registering these changes.