Factors affecting bone mineral density of young women and predictive factors of low bone mineral density.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated various factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) in young women and predictive factors of low BMD.


METHODS
Subjects were 105 nursing school students aged from 19 to 24 years old. Body weight (BW), pituitary hormones, sex steroid hormone and bone turnover markers were selected as factors. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine at L2-L4 by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).


RESULTS
BW (p = 0.002), serum N-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (NTx) (p = 0.006) and bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) (p = 0.02) were significantly correlated with BMD. For identification of the low BMD group, all subjects were divided into four groups on the basis of BW and NTx concentrations. In the group with BW under 51 kg and Ntx concentrations over 11 nMBCE/1, BMD was significantly (p = 0.0013) decreased compared with the other three groups. In this group, the ratio of women with a low BMD was significantly higher (p = 0.004) than the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In young women, BW and bone turnover markers significantly affected BMD. Low BMD can be indicated using BW and NTx concentrations without measurement by DXA.
Ikeuchi
K
K
School of Health and Nursing Science,Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Umesaki
N
N
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase