Lo HC, et al. – Researchers conducted this study to figure out the best site for bone mineral density (BMD) measurements based on T–scores, age, and beverage consumption. In elderly Taiwanese women, a correlation was seen, of bone mineral density measurements at the hip and forearm with caffeine consumption This is a crucial finding since age and caffeine consumption are known risk factors for osteoporosis.

Methods

• Researchers performed a prospective study, wherein, 271 women stratified by age (average age: 61.9 years) underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning of their lumbar spine, hips, and forearms.
• Osteoporosis was defined as a BMD of 2.5 standard deviations or more below the mean peak bone mass based on a reference population of adult women (translated as a T-score ≤ –2.5), as measured by DEXA.
• They also assessed the participants regarding alcohol and caffeine consumption by a semiquantitative questionnaire.

Results

• They observed a significant discrepancy in the classification of osteoporosis at different locations, with hip and forearm showing the best correlation (Pearson’s r = 0.627, p < 0.001).
• Findings revealed that, for participants over 50 years of age, hip and forearm showed the best correlation.
• They also noted significant correlations between forearm T-scores and caffeine consumed and, to a lesser extent, the level of alcohol consumption.
• Results demonstrated that in the group ≤ 50 years of age, lumbar spine and forearm T-scores were only associated with alcohol consumption.
• In addition, data reported that in the group over 50 years of age, hip and forearm T-scores were only associated with caffeine consumption.