BONE-DENSITY IN MEDIEVAL SKELETONS

We studied the most complete skeletons found in an excavation from the 14th and 15th century in central Stockholm, One hundred eighty-seven were from men and 156 from women: 241 individuals were estimated to be between 20 and 39 and 102 between 40 and 59 years old at death. We ex amined the bones radiographically and by dual photon absorptiometry. T he bone mineral density (BMD) was similar to the finding in North Amer ica and Northern Europe today as was the relationship between men and women. However, there appeared to be a higher diaphyseal bone density in the lower extremities, especially in men. The femur score was highe r and the BMD of the femoral and tibial shafts was higher than today. In the upper extremities the diaphyseal bone density was lower. Meema' s index, as well as the metacarpal score, was smaller than in individu als in this century and the BMD of the humeral shaft was also lower th an seen today. Overall, the metaphyseal bone density was similar to wh at we now consider normal; i.e., the mean BMD of the femoral neck was 0.96 g/cm(2) in men and 0.90 g/cm(2) in women and of the distal radius 0.43 and 0.32 g/cm(2), respectively. The low diaphyseal density and i n the upper extremities may be related to the nutritional status, wher eas the greater need for walking and standing in the 14th and 15th cen tury might have led to the high diaphyseal density in the lower extrem ities. There was no evidence of bone loss after 40 years of age in eit her sex in our study. The average expected lifespan for an adult indiv idual was less than 50 years and we suggest that the relatively high b one density in the older age group may be due to selection of the most physically fit, The activity pattern, therefore, may be considered th e most important determinant for the differences.