Bone mineral density was determined in a series of 67 elderly diabetic
s (38 males and 29 females) and 40 non-diabetic elderly subjects (20 m
ales and 20 females) at the third medial and tenth ultradistal of the
non-dominating radius using an X-ray densitometer (DEXA). Bone metabol
ism markers (Ct, PTH, HOP, UCA, AP, Vit-25-OH-D, BGP) were also measur
ed. Our results indicate that there is no significant difference in va
lues of BMD and the bone metabolism markers studied between diabetic a
nd non-diabetic elderly subjects. We believe that senile diabetes is n
ot a risk factor of onset and maintenance of senile osteoporosis.