[Bone density--reference values in German men. A study of the lumbar spine with the Lunar-DPX-densitometer].
The DXA-technique is a well established method to study bone mineral density (BMD). Until now there are no reliable reference data based on the male population of Germany.


OBJECTIVE
Are the data base, given by the manufacturer transferable to the male population in Germany?


METHODS
So a cross sectional study based on 715 healthy males with German ethnic background (age 20-89) was carried out. Comparison was made to the ap spine reference data of northern Europe.


RESULTS
The peak bone mass was 1,26 +/- 0,17 g/cm2 at the age of 20-24 years. After that the BMD decreases to the sixth decade (1,09 +/- 0,18 g/cm2), further on there is an increase to 1,18 +/- 0,21 g/cm2 in the ninth decade.


CONCLUSIONS
Looking at a comparable Swedish study there are no significant differences, looking at a Finnish study there are statistically significant differences in the sixth decade (t = 3,246) and seventh decade (t = 2,413). The results of our study complete the data base until now, but one should be careful to transfer the data base provided by the manufacturer.
Wetzel
R
R
Orthopädische Abteilung des Rehabilitationskrankenhauses, Universität Ulm.
Neumann
M
M
Pfandl
S
S
Puhl
W
W
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012016:Reference Values; D013548:Sweden