Age-associated bone loss in men and women and its relationship to weight.
The relationship of bone mineral density (BMD) to age and weight was investigated in a cross-sectional study of 942 community-dwelling men and women aged 65-74 years. BMD continues to decline after the age of 65 at a similar rate in men and women. BMD was positively associated with weight in both men and women with similar regression slopes; approximately one third of the decline in BMD with age could be explained by the associated age-related decline in weight. Maintaining weight in later life may prevent some of the age-related loss of bone. Whatever factors are responsible for the age-related decline in bone mass apply similarly in men and women at these older ages: there is no evidence for accelerated decline in women in this age group.
May
H
H
Clinical Gerontology Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.
Murphy
S
S
Khaw
K T
KT
D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors