title: X-ray, CT and DXA study of bone loss on medieval remains from North-West Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether the population differences in osteoporosis observed nowadays is a reflection of the times and modern lifestyle factors, or whether they were also present in the past.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed on the skeletal remains of medieval and post-medieval populations from a burial ground in the North-West of Italy. Some individuals had been buried inside the church (privileged subjects), others outside in the parvis (members of rural population), and others still to the north of the church. X-ray, computed tomography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry studies were carried out on the lumbar spines and/or femurs of 27 male and 28 female individuals to determine any associations between cortical index, bone mineral density (BMD), gender, age and social status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were observed in cortical index values according to gender, age or place of burial. Conversely, statistically significant differences in average BMD values were observed according to place of burial; in particular, among those buried inside the church, a lower BMD was observed compared to the parvis group (1.09 vs. 1.42, p < 0.001) and the north group (1.09 vs. 1.49, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differences observed in the BMD values may be related to the different lifestyle of the rural population, i.e. more dietary calcium intake, more sun exposure and vigorous physical activity, compared to that of the privileged individuals.
authors: Radiodiagnostic Unit of CTO/Maria Adelaide, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Corso Bramante 88, 10126, Turin, Italy, a.borre@libero.it.
authors: Alda
authors: A
authors: Borrè
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Boano
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Di Stefano
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Castiglione
authors: Giovannino
authors: G
authors: Ciccone
authors: Giovanni Carlo
authors: GC
authors: Isaia
authors: Gian Luigi
authors: GL
authors: Panattoni
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Faletti
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000266:history*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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