THE INFLUENCE OF BODY-SIZE, SMOKING, AND DIET ON BONE-DENSITY IN PREMENOPAUSAL AND POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

We studied the determinants of low bone mineral density, using data fr om a population-based screening program of osteoporosis carried out am ong 1,373 women (age 40-64 years) in the province of Pordenone, Italy, by means of dual photon absorptiometry of the lumbar spine. Menopause had a major effect on bone mineral density. Age had little influence before menopause. In multivariate linear regression analyses, weight w as the strongest predictor of bone mineral density in pre- as well as postmenopausal women. After the inclusion in a single model of a term for current weight, weight at ages 12 and 30 years explained some addi tional variance, whereas high waist-to-hip ratio (an indicator of cent ral adiposity) had no influence. Smoking 15 or more cigarettes per day entailed a small increased risk of osteoporosis, but this effect, ind ependent of weight, appeared to be restricted to premenopausal women. No food or micronutrient that we examined was predictive of bone miner al density, nor was coffee or alcoholic beverage intake.