Ultrasonographic assessment of bone in normal Italian males and females.

Recently ultrasound techniques have been proposed to evaluate skeletal status. Speed of sound and attenuation through the bone are the ultrasound properties currently used to assess bone strength and fragility. The speed of sound in m s-1 (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation in dB MHz-1 (BUA) and stiffness (S) in 134 healthy females (age range 10-90 years) and in 100 healthy males (age range 10-93 years) was measured using the Achilles scanner (Lunar Corp., Madison, WI, USA). A polynomial function was applied to the observed data to evaluate a pattern of age-related BUA, SOS and S changes. Peak values of SOS, BUA and S were reached in both sexes at the age of 30 years. Average decreases of 12.9% in BUA, 4.9% in SOS and 28.9% in S were found in men aged between 30 and 90 years. In women average decreases of 17.2% in BUA, 4.2% in SOS and 31.9% in S were discovered in those aged between 30 and 90 years. The analysis of SOS, BUA and S changes between pre- and post-menopausal women revealed a significant decrease of these parameters with years since menopause. These data indicate an age-related decrease of ultrasound signals in both sexes. Furthermore, this technique is able to detect, in females, menopause related changes due to oestrogen failure. In contrast, in males, the age-related loss of ultrasound signals appears to be more linear.