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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #210080
Title: Race/ethnic differences in bone mineral density in men

Author
item ARAUJO, A - NEW ENGLAND RESEARCH INST
item TRAVISON, T - NEW ENGLAND RESEARCH INST
item HARRIS, SUSAN - TUFTS-HNRCA
item HOLICK, M - BU SCHOOL OF MED
item TURNER, A - BU SCHOOL OF MED
item MCKINLAY, J - New England Research Institute

Submitted to: Osteoporosis International
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/27/2006
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The epidemiology of osteoporosis in male and minority populations is understudied. In order to address this concern, we compared the bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of a random sample of 1,209 Black, Hispanic, and White men in Boston, Massachusetts who were between the ages of 30 and 79. Results showed that Black men exhibited higher BMC and BMD than either Hispanic or White men. Differences between Hispanic and White subjects were restricted to the hip and age-related BMD and BMC decreases were greatest among Hispanic men. Results may help explain variation in hip fracture rates by race/ethnicity. The steeper age-related BMD decline in Hispanic men is of particular concern.

Technical Abstract: The epidemiology of osteoporosis in male and minority populations is understudied. To address this concern, we conducted a study of skeletal health in a diverse population of adult males, comparing Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in 367 Black, 401 Hispanic, and 451 White men aged 30-79 years who were randomly sampled from Boston, MA. Bone densitometry (bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD) at the whole body, hip, lumbar spine, and forearm was performed. Multiple regression analyses on 1,209 men with available data were used to describe race/ethnic group-specific means (height- and age-adjusted) and age trends (height-adjusted) in BMC, BA, and BMD. Results were weighted to represent the Boston male population aged 30-79 years. Results indicated that black men had greater BMC and BMD than Hispanic or White men. Femoral neck BMD was 5.6% and 13.3% higher in Black men than in Hispanic and White men, respectively. Differences between Hispanic and White subjects were restricted to the hip. Age-related declines in BMC and BMD were significantly steeper among Hispanic than Black or White men. Therefore, differences in BMC and BMD could explain variation in fracture rates among Black, Hispanic, and White men. The steeper age-related BMD decline in Hispanic men is of particular concern. Age-related BMD decreases were greatest among Hispanic men. Results may help explain variation in hip fracture rates by race/ethnicity.