Bone density and bone area in Canadian Aboriginal women : the First Nations Bone Health Study

• Published in: Osteoporosis international 2006-12, Vol.17 (12), p.1755-1762
• Main Authors: LESLIE, W. D, METGE, C. J, WEILER, H. A, DOUPE, M, WOOD STEIMAN, P, O'NEIL, J. D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Body Height - physiology; Body Weight - physiology; Bone density; Bone Density - physiology; Calcaneus - anatomy & histology; Calcaneus - physiology; Canada - epidemiology; Canada - ethnology; Cohort Studies; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Forearm - anatomy & histology; Fractures; Health; Humans; Indians, North American; Lumbar Vertebrae - anatomy & histology; Lumbar Vertebrae - physiology; Measurement; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Native North Americans; Osteoporosis - etiology; Osteoporosis - physiopathology; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Pelvic Bones - anatomy & histology; Pelvic Bones - physiology; Rural Health; Urban Health; Women
• ISSN: 0937-941X; 1433-2965
• DOI: 10.1007/s00198-006-0184-0

Canadian Aboriginal women are at increased risk of fracture compared with the general population. There is disproportionately reduced bone density in Aboriginal women as compared to white females of similar age. A random age-stratified (25-39, 40-59 and 60-75) sample of Aboriginal women (n=258) and white women (n=181) was recruited. All subjects had calcaneus and distal forearm bone density measurements, and urban participants (n=397 [90.4%]) also had measurements of the lumbar spine, hip and total body. Unadjusted measurements were similar in the two groups apart from the distal forearm which showed a significantly lower mean Z-score in the Aboriginal women (p=0.03). Aboriginal women were heavier than white women (81.0+/-18.0 kg vs. 76.0+/-18.0 kg, p=0.02). Weight was directly associated with BMD at all measurement sites (p