CALCANEUS AND VERTEBRAE BONE-MINERAL DENSITY VALUES AND FRACTURE THRESHOLD

The calcaneus bone mineral density values (BMDs) of healthy Japanese women peaked at 20 to 26 years of age with 435+/-66 mg/cm(2) (mean+/-S.D.), decreased 0.51% on the average every year thereafter until 45 years of age, 1.72% between 45 and 55 years (menopause) and 0.55% thereafter. The vertebrae bone mineral density value peaked at 30 to 35 years of age with 1.06+/-0.13 g/cm(2) (mean+/-S.D.), decreased 0.67% on the average every year thereafter until 45 years of age, 1.23% between 45 and 55 years (menopause) and 0.70% thereafter. Mean -2.0 S.D. of the peak bone mass was considered appropriate as the fracture threshold for both the calcaneus and vertebra, judging from the BMDs of osteoporosis patients.