title: Bone mass and risk factors for bone loss in perimenopausal Danish women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine risk factors for low bone mass at menopause and risk factors for subsequent bone loss in the following period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study and a 2-year prospective follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The catchment area of Sundby Hospital in Copenhagen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and thirty-three women aged 45-58 years, with amenorrhea for 3-24 months, of whom 87 were followed for a 2-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Registration of life-style and anthropometric variables, reproductive history, and family history of fractures. Total body bone mineral content (BMC) was measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By means of multiple regression analysis height, body weight, and length of reproductive period were found to be positively related to whole body BMC (P < 0.001), whilst a negative relationship was found to age (P < 0.001), smoking (P < 0.001), and family history of fractures (P < 0.005). In the longitudinal study, only body weight at the inclusion (P = 0.005) and subsequent changes in body weight and fat mass (P < 0.001) were related to the changes in bone mass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most significant predictors for bone loss were changes in body weight and fat mass. Hence, weight loss is a risk factor for bone loss in the early postmenopausal period, whereas weight gain seems to preserve bone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Copenhagen Municipal Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brot
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: O H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss