title: Evaluation of bone mineral density on the basis of the results of studies of selected skeleton populations from the microregion of Brześć Kujawski.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoporosis is a systemic disease of the skeletal system characterised by reduced bone strength leading to increased risk of fracture. Bone strength is a combined derivative of bone mineral density (BMD) and of bone tissue quality. Osteoporosis is a serious medical problem because of its complications, most frequently manifesting itself in spine fractures, fractures of distal sections of the forearm and, in later periods of life, hip fractures. Reduced BMD is an independent risk factor of osteoporosis. The goal of the study was an evaluation of bone mineral density of the population inhabiting the micro-region of Brześć Kujawski from the 11(th) century until the beginning of the 19th century.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human bones obtained from archaeological excavations at four archaeological sites: Kolonia (11th-13th centuries), SBK-4 (12th-16th centuries), Fara (14th-17th centuries) and Swiety Duch (16th-19th centuries) and from the collections of the Katedra of Anthropology of the University of Łódź were subjected to study. Bone mineral densities of the skeleton populations were compared with those of the control group, namely the present living population of the Łódź Province. The incidence of osteoporosis was evaluated by densitometric assessment, which was performed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) on a DPX device (LUNAR, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The densitometric measurements performed enabled differences to be identified in the mineral density of the osseous tissue. The skeletal groups studied were characterised by a significantly higher mean BMD than the contemporary living population. Changes in BMD indicative of osteopenia prevailed in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of the results obtained it cannot definitively be stated that the skeletal groups studied, despite their significantly higher BMD, were affected by a lower risk of osteoporosis and its complications. A continuation of studies on the mineral content of bones and on the relationship between the mineral content and bone mineral density is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone Metabolism, Medical University, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bajon
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smiszkiewicz-Skwarska
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stolarczyk
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zygmunt
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sewerynek
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001106:Archaeology; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging