Bone mineral status of Polish men in the course of normal ageing

Age-related changes in the bone mineral content (BMC) of men are conditione d by both genetic and environmental factors distinctive for particular popu lations. This results in considerable differences between various populatio ns concerning the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis, and the occurr ence of normal variability in BMC among adult and elderly men. The aim of t he study was to evaluate the variation of BMC with age in an ethnically hom ogenous sample of 405 healthy men, age 20-60 years, all occupationally acti ve inhabitants of the city of Wroclaw, Lower Silesia, Poland. Trabecular an d total BMC at the ultradistal radius of the nondominant hand were assessed by peripheral quantitative computerized tomography using the Stratec 960 d ensitometer. Among Polish men a distinct phase of maximal BMC values (aroun d the age of 30) was distinguished, with a subsequent, quite rapid decline in bone mass. For example, the peak value of trabecular BMC decreased by ap proximately 13.2% per decade. In Polish men up to 30-34 years old trabecula r and total BMC even exceeded reference values by 10%; however, from 35 yea rs onwards their BMC was lower than standard values. This unfavourable phen omenon of BMC decline was augmented with age, and finally BMC values in men aged 55 and over were 30-35% lower than reference values. The significant discrepancies found between the data presented in this study and reference values probably result from inter-populational differences in the lifestyle s of healthy ageing men. The results also confirm that bone density (with i ts age-related changes in the course of normal male ageing) is one of the b iological features characteristic of this particular regional population.