Factors Relating to the Bone Mineral Density in the Elderly Living in the Urban Community

A population-based cross-sectional study of the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and several physical factors was conducted on the Japanese community elderly in 1991. The study comprised 387 participants living in the urban community of Tokyo. BMD was measured on the third lumbar vertebra with a lateral projection by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry fixed in a van (mobile DXA). The mean BMD declined with aging in both males and females except at age-group 80-84 in males. Males had significantly higher BMD in average than females in each age-group. In univariate analysis, such many physical factors as height, weight, body mass index (BMI), grip strength, walking speed in maximum walking, serum albumin, serum intact parathyroid hormone (intact-PTH), masticatory ability and age showed significant association with BMD. Multiple regression analysis revealed that age (inversely) and BMI (directly) had significant association with BMD in both sexes. In addition, serum albumin in males and height, intact-PTH and masticatory ability in females remained as significant contributors to BMD. J Epidemiol, 1994; 4 : 83-89.