Bone mineral analysis of whole body in 292 normal subjects assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry.

Objective: To study the whole body bone mineral changes in normal subjects.

Methods: Bone mineral was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 292 normal subjects aged 10-79 years, including 152 females and 140 males. They were divided into age-groups by decade.

Results: In males, the ages with peak value of total bone mineral content (TBMC), total bone mineral density (TBMD), anteroposterior spine BMD (L2-4 BMD) were in the 30-39, 20-39, 20-29 age-groups respectively. In females, they were all in the 30-39 age-group. Peak values of TBMC, TBMD, L2-4 BMD were higher in males than those in females. Loss of bone mineral for females was more pronounced than that for males. Loss of L2-4 BMD was more pronounced than TBMD.

Conclusion: This study provides the normal bone mineral data of whole body for males and females, and the characteristic of changes.