The Relationship between Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition Variables Measured by DEXA in Postmenopausal Women

Background: This study was aimed to quantify the relationship between the bone mineral density and the body composition in Korean postmenopausal women. Methods: Whole and regional body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured with DEXA in 149 postmenopausal women. Data were analysed using ANOVA test, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression. Results: The mean age was 53.4 +/- 6.9 years, the mean YSM was 5.4 +/- 6.7 years, the mean height was 154.5 +/- 4.9 cm and the mean weight was 56.8 +/- 7.4 kg. They were classified under non-osteoporosis (n=40), osteopenia (n=66) or osteoporosis (n=43) group. There were significant differences in age, YSM, height, total lean body mass, bone mineral content (BMC), regional lean body mass of leg and trunk and regional BMD among the three groups (P < 0.05). In contrast, weight, BMI, total fat mass and body fat percentage were not significantly different among the three groups. The BMD of total body, lumbar spine and proximal femur had a negative correlation with age and YSM but positive correlation with height, weight, total lean body mass (P < 0.05). From multiple linear models, age, total lean body mass, total fat mass and YSM were found to be the best predictor of total BMD (R-2 =0.460, P < 0.05) and age and total lean body mass were found to be the best predictor of BMD of lumbar spine (R-2 =0.223, P < 0.001) and proximal femur (R-2 =0.351, P < 0.001). Conclusion: From these results it is suggested that lean body mass is the major determinant of BMD at total, lumbar spine and proximal femur in postmenopausal women.