Choice of parameter for expressing bone mineralization.

In this cross-sectional study, the relative importance of anthropometric factors and that of biological parameters on bone mineralization were evaluated and their practical implications inferred on the choice of the parameter to be used for the estimation of bone mineralization. A close relationship between anthropometric factors and bone mineral content (BMC) was observed and this relationship was shown to be independent of age. Furthermore, by regression analyses, anthropometric parameters appeared to explain a large part of the variance in BMC and preceded the hormonal parameters in the stepwise analysis of this model. Using bone mineral density (BMD) data, however, we observed a weaker relationship between anthropometric factors and bone mineralization and a relatively stronger relationship between steroid hormones and bone mineralization than those observed using the BMC data. Furthermore, by multiple regression analysis the hormonal factors preceded the anthropometric parameters in the stepwise analysis of the model. As strong epidemiological and clinical evidence exists on the relationship between steroid hormones and bone loss, these results constitute a supplementary argument for the use of BMD for the estimation of bone mineralization.