Age-dependent changes of mineral contents in men and women's calcanei

To elucidate age-related change of mineral contents in human bones, the mineral content and density of human calcanei were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Calcanei were removed from 27 subjects (17 men and 10 women) who died in the age range from 40-98 yr old. Both the inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry indicated that there were age-dependent decreases of the mineral contents and density in the men's calcaneus in the age range from 40-98 yr, but not in the women's calcaneus in the age range from 42-87 yr. It was also found that the calcanean masses of the men and women remained constant within the same age range until 98 yr.