Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2002, 196 (3)

Metacarpal Bone Mineral Density, Body Mass Index and Lifestyle among
Postmenopausal Japanese Women: Relationship of Body Mass Index,
Physical Activity, Calcium Intake, Alcohol and Smoking to
Bone Mineral Density: The Hizen-Oshima Study

YUICHIROU YAHATA, KIYOSHI AOYAGI, KUNIHIKO OKANO,¹ ITSURO YOSHIMI,
YOSUKE KUSANO, MINATSU KOBAYASHI,² KAZUHIKO MOJI³
and TAI-ICHIRO TAKEMOTO

Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki 852-8523, ¹Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki 852-8501,
²Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba 277-0882, and
³Nagasaki University School of Health Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8520

The present study was designed to investigate the influence of modifiable risk factors (body weight and lifestyle) for bone loss on bone mineral density (BMD). We examined age-specific changes in metacarpal BMD, and its associations with body mass index and lifestyle among 532 community-dwelling postmenopausal Japanese women. Measurements of the second metacarpal BMD were obtained from the hand radiographs using computer-assisted radiographic absorptiometry. Body height and weight were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Physical activity index was calculated using validated questionnaire. Daily calcium intake and amount of ingested alcohol were estimated by semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Current smoking status was obtained by questionnaire. Metacarpal BMD decreased significantly with increasing age. Simple correlation analysis indicated that metacarpal BMD correlated significantly with BMI and physical activity index. On the other hand, metacarpal BMD did not correlate with calcium intake and alcohol drinking. Metacarpal BMD in current smokers was not different from that in non-smokers. Multiple regression analysis showed that increasing age was associated with decreased metacarpal BMD and greater BMI increased metacarpal BMD. However, physical activity, calcium intake, alcohol drinking and current smoking were not significant determinants of metacarpal BMD. Our findings suggest that maintenance of adequate body mass (prevention for leanness) is important for prevention of postmenopausal bone loss.

Keywords —— bone mineral density; metacarpal; body mass index; lifestyle; menopausal women

© 2002 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2002, 196, 123-129

Address for reprints: Kiyoshi Aoyagi, M.D., Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.

e-mail: kiyoshi@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp