Bone density and frame size in adult women: Effects of body size, habitual use, and life history

Abstract

Objective Bone mineral density (BMD) and frame size are important predictors of future bone health, with smaller frame size and lower BMD associated with higher risk of later fragility fractures. We test the effects of body size, habitual use, and life history on frame size and cortical BMD of the radius and tibia in sample of healthy adult premenopausal women. Methods We used anthropometry and life history data from 123 women (age 18‐46) from rural Poland. Standard techniques were used to measure height, weight, and body fat. Life history factors were recorded using surveys. Grip strength was measured as a proxy for habitual activity, wrist breadth for skeletal frame size. Cortical BMD was measured at the one‐third distal point of the radius and mid‐point of the tibia using quantitative ultrasound (reported as speed of sound, SoS). Results Radial SoS was high (mean t‐score 3.2 ± 1.6), but tibia SoS was average (mean t‐score 0.35 ± 1.17). SoS was not associated with age, although wrist breadth was positively associated with age after adjusting for height. Radius SoS was not associated with measures of body size, habitual use, or life history factors. Wrist breadth was associated with body size (p < .05 for all), lean mass, and grip strength. Tibia SoS was associated with height. Life history factors were not associated with frame size or cortical SoS. Conclusions Habitual use and overall body size are more strongly associated with frame size and cortical SoS than life history factors in this sample of healthy adult women.

Dietary protein source matters for changes in inflammation measured by urinaryC‐reactiveprotein in rural polish women

“…The initial sample ( n = 129) consisted of healthy premenopausal Polish women with data collected in the 2014, 2015, and 2017 summer harvest seasons. Study protocols have been described elsewhere (Lee et al, 2019, 2020; Rogers et al, 2020). Research protocols were approved by the University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Institutional Review Board (UIUC IRB #13856), and all participants provided informed consent.…”

“…The initial sample (n = 129) consisted of healthy premenopausal Polish women with data collected in the 2014, 2015, and 2017 summer harvest seasons. Study protocols have been described elsewhere (Lee et al, 2019(Lee et al, , 2020Rogers et al, 2020).…”