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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #205589
Title: Do the Determinants of Bone Mineral Density Differ by Gender? The Framingham Osteoporosis Study

Author
item BROE, KERRY - INST FOR AGING RESEARCH
item HANNAN, MARIAN - INST FOR AGING RESEARCH
item MCLEAN, ROBERT - INST FOR AGING RESEARCH
item Tucker, Katherine
item CUPPLES, ADRIENNE - BOSTON UNIVERSITY SPH
item KIEL, DOUG - INST FOR AGING RESEARCH

Submitted to: American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/14/2006
Publication Date: 9/18/2006
Citation: Broe, K.E., Hannan, M.T., Mclean, R.R., Tucker, K., Cupples, A.L., Kiel, D.P. 2006. Do the Determinants of Bone Mineral Density Differ by Gender? The Framingham Osteoporosis Study. American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 28th Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA. September 18, 2006. Abstract no. M306.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Osteoporosis is a disease that affects both men and women yet it remains unclear whether determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) differ by gender since few population-based osteoporosis studies have included both men and women. Our study goal was to determine factors associated with BMD and whether these factors are similar in men and women. We examined the cross-sectional relation between traditional risk factors and BMD by gender among 2971 participants in the Framingham Offspring Osteoporosis Study. Between 1996 and 2001, 1341 men and 1630 women (mean age 60 yrs, range 29-86 yrs) had BMD measured at the hip (femoral neck) and spine (L2-L4) by Lunar DPX-L. Risk factors were measured/assessed by questionnaire at the Framingham exam closest to the time BMD was measured. Factors correlated with BMD at a p-value of 0.1 or lower were included in the final model. Multivariable regression models were run separately by gender. Factors in the final model included age (yrs), weight (lbs), height (inches), current smoking (y/n) physical activity level (PASE score), alcohol (ounces/week), caffeine use (>2 units/day, y/n), dietary calcium intake (mg), dietary vitamin D intake (IU), years of education (>12 years, y/n), diabetes (y/n), anticoagulant use (y/n), nitrate use (y/n), statins use (y/n) and in women only - menopausal status (y/n) and estrogen use (y/n). In men, age and weight were significantly associated with both hip and spine sites (p <0001). Additionally, higher physical activity (p=.005) and dietary calcium intake (p=.03) were associated with higher hip BMD while nitrate use (p=.01) was associated with higher spine BMD. A total of 22% of the variance in hip BMD and 10% of the variance in spine BMD were accounted for by these multivariable analyses in men. In women, age and menopausal status were associated with lower BMD while weight, height, and estrogen use were associated with higher BMD at both the hip and spine sites (all p <.001). Additionally, education status (p=.03) was associated with higher hip BMD while diabetes and alcohol use (p<001) were associated with higher spine BMD. A total of 38% of the variance in hip BMD and 30% of the variance in spine BMD were accounted for in these multivariable analyses in women. Age and weight were associated with BMD in both men and women yet the other determinants differ among men and women and by BMD site. We conclude that differences exist in determinants of BMD for men and women. These differences may need to be considered as additional studies of risk factors for osteoporosis are conducted.