Peak bone mineral density of physically active healthy Indian men with adequate nutrition and no known current constraints to bone mineralization

Abstract

We undertook this study to characterize peak bone density and evaluate its determinants in a healthy cohort of young adult male paramilitary personnel. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 473 healthy men aged 21–40 yr. The effect of anthropometry and biochemical parameters on BMD was determined. Mean BMD values of L1–L4, forearm, total hip, and femoral neck were 1.170 ± 0.137, 0.755 ± 0.089, 1.129 ± 0.130 and 1.115 ± 0.133 g/cm², respectively. BMD values for 31- to 40-yr age group were lower than those of 20- to 30-yr age group except for forearm, which was higher in the former. Significant positive correlation was observed between height, weight and body mass index with BMD. On multivariate regression analysis, weight was the most consistent contributor to variance in the BMD. Compared with age-matched US males, BMD of total hip and femoral neck were higher for Indian paramilitary personnel by 3.58% and 4.2%, whereas lumbar spine BMD was lower by 4.1%. In conclusion, peak BMD in healthy Indian males was achieved by 30 yr of age at lumbar spine and hip, with weight being the most consistent contributor to variance in BMD. Peak BMD in this population was comparable to that reported in white US males.