POSTMENOPAUSAL BONE LOSS IN JAPANESE WOMEN

Objectives: Our purpose was to detect anatomic variations in postmenop ausal bone loss and to determine the risk factors most affecting bone mass in Japanese women. Methods: One hundred sixty-six Japanese women (54 premenopausal and 112 postmenopausal), aged 40-68 years, were enro lled in the study. Bone mineral densities (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L 2-4) and total body were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and the results were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Among the various sites studied, the lumbar spine (L2-4) showed the fastest bone loss after menopause. Multiple regression analysis indicated tha t two factors, number of years since the menopause and body mass index (BMI), affected lumbar spine (L2-4) BMD. Conclusion: Measurement of l umbar spine (L2-4) BMD is suitable for evaluating postmenopausal osteo porosis. The risk factors for postmenopausal bone loss were a long per iod after menopause and a low BMI.