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Positive associations of bone mineral density with body mass index, physical activity, and blood triglyceride level in men over 70 years old: a TCVGHAGE study

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Abstract

It is known that osteoporosis decreases physical function in older males. However, the role of metabolic parameters and physical activity influencing older men's bone status remains unclear. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate calcaneus bone mass by ultrasonic screening and the associated physical and metabolic functions in older men. This was a cross-sectional study. Three hundred sixty-eight older men (average age, 78.8 years) living in a veterans' home were enrolled. We measured body height and weight, waist and hip circumference, body fat, lean body mass, blood pressure, 6-min walking distance, complete blood count, and blood biochemical profile. Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and T-score were recorded using Soundscan quantitative ultrasound over the right calcaneus. The range of calcaneus BUA was 27.3–134.0; T-score was from −4.78 to 3.43. Of the total participants, 36.4% were osteopenic (−2.5 < T-score < −1.0) and 16.3% were osteoporotic (T-score ≦ −2.5). BUA correlated with weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat, lean body mass, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, albumin, prealbumin, fasting and PC-2h blood insulin, red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, and 6-min walking distance. Multiple regression stepwise analysis revealed that only BMI, distance of 6-min walking, and blood triglyceride level were independently and positively associated with the values of BUA. Calcaneus bone mass is significantly and positively associated with BMI, blood triglycerides, and 6-min walking distance in older men.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Taichung Veterans General Hospital AGEing Research Group (TCVGHAGE), Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan R.O.C., No. 160, Chung-Kang Road Sec. 3, 407, Taichung City, TAIWAN, R.O.C.

    Yih-Jing Tang, Wayne Huey-Herng Sheu, Pi-Haw Liu, Wen-Jane Lee & Ying-Tsung Chen

  2. Chung-Shan Medical University, Institute of Medicine, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Yih-Jing Tang, Wayne Huey-Herng Sheu & Ying-Tsung Chen

  3. Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Wen-Jane Lee

  4. Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Pi-Haw Liu & Ying-Tsung Chen

  5. Department of Medical Education and Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Wen-Jane Lee

  6. National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Wayne Huey-Herng Sheu, Pi-Haw Liu & Ying-Tsung Chen

  7. National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Wayne Huey-Herng Sheu & Ying-Tsung Chen

  8. Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Wayne Huey-Herng Sheu

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  1. Yih-Jing Tang
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  2. Wayne Huey-Herng Sheu
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  3. Pi-Haw Liu
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  4. Wen-Jane Lee
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  5. Ying-Tsung Chen
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Correspondence to Ying-Tsung Chen.

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Tang, YJ., Sheu, WH., Liu, PH. et al. Positive associations of bone mineral density with body mass index, physical activity, and blood triglyceride level in men over 70 years old: a TCVGHAGE study. J Bone Miner Metab 25, 54–59 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-006-0727-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-006-0727-7

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