Bone mineral density correlates strongly with basal metabolic rate in postmenopausal women

Background: This study investigated the relationships of bone mineral density (BMD) with body composition, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and fat distribution. Methods: We measured body mass index (BMI), anthropometrics, and BMD in 345 postmenopausal women and 224 elderly men. Total body fat (TBF), fat distribution, and BMR were assessed using a body composition analyzer. Lumbar spine and proximal femur BMDs were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Lumbar spine BMD was more strongly correlated with BMR (r=0.51, p < 0.01) than with lean body mass (r=0.39, p < 0.01) and waist hip ratio (r=-0.28, p < 0.01) in postmenopausal women. The mean values of BMR in osteoporotic women were significantly lower than those for non-osteoporotic women (p < 0.01). The prevalences of osteoporosis at the sites of lumbar spine and proximal femur were 32.1% and 23.3% in the women with BMR < 1230 kcal, which were significantly higher than those of osteoporosis (5.4% and 7.7%) at the corresponding sites in the women with BMR greater than or equal to1230 kcal (p < 0.01). In elderly men, the incidence of osteoporosis at the proximal femur was 29.5% in the subjects with BMR < 1390 kcal, significantly higher than that (2.2%) in the subjects with BMR greater than or equal to 1390 kcal (p < 0.01). Conclusion: BMR is more closely associated with bone density in elderly persons, at least as compared to TBF, BMI, or lean body mass. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.