Comparison of bone mineral density among residents of a mountain village and a fishing village in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the bone mineral density of residents of a mountain village with that of residents of a fishing village in Mie Prefecture, Japan.


METHODS
Microdensitometry was used to measure bone mineral density of the second metacarpal bone of 202 participants living in a mountain village and of 852 participants living in a fishing village to identify contributory factors for osteoporosis. The participants were interviewed using a questionnaire on alcohol consumption, fish intake, milk intake, and daily activity.


RESULTS
Analysis of covariance revealed that bone mineral density was significantly higher among the participants living in a fishing village than among those living in a mountain village (2.5-2.9 versus 2.1-2.7 mmAl; p<0.001). A higher proportion of women in the fishing village than of those in the mountain village consumed alcohol (17% versus 10%; p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Nutrition may be a contributory factor to the lower incidence of osteoporosis among residents of the fishing village compared with those of the mountain village.
Sudo
A
A
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mie University School of Medicine, Mie, Japan. a-sudo@clin.mie-u.ac.jp
Miyamoto
N
N
Kasai
Y
Y
Yamakawa
T
T
Uchida
A
A
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D004032:Diet; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population