Background: The purpose of the study was to determine if bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly Chinese subjects was associated with indices of calcium metabolism (parathyroid hormone, vitamin D), osteocalcin, and other nonbiochemical factors.
Method: 104 men (mean age 74 +/- 6 yrs) and 213 women (mean age 76 +/- 8 yrs) with no previous history of fractures were recruited from old age hostels and community centers. BMD was measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Results: BMD in both sexes was associated with body mass index (BMI), arm circumference, and skinfold thicknesses. Additionally, in women there was a positive association with grip strength and load-bearing activities, a negative association with age in all sites except for the lumbar spine, and negative associations with indices of bone turnover (osteocalcin, urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine and calcium/creatinine ratios). After adjusting for BMI, women with hypertension or taking antihypertensive drugs had higher mean BMD at the lumbar spine. Multivariate analyses showed that only BMI predicted BMD in men, while age, BMI, and arm circumference were predictors of BMD in women.
Conclusion: Indices of calcium metabolism were not correlated with BMD in this elderly Chinese population, suggesting that the age-related rise in parathyroid hormone and reduced intestinal absorption of calcium may not be important factors in determining BMD in elderly Chinese men and women.