Urinary and Anthropometrical Indices of Bone Density in Healthy Nigerian Adults

Abstract

Measurements on the x-ray of the 2nd metacarpal of the right hand and 2h fasting urine sample were used in a cross sectional study to assess urinary indices of bone density (bone mass, percentage cortical area, PCA) in 94 healthy Nigerian adults aged between 19-72 years. Body mass index (BMI) was also estimated. No significant gender - difference was observed in most of the parameters with exception of bone mass, which was larger in the males (57.11± 8.74 mm2 and 47.40±8.43 mm2 for males and females respectively, p < 0.05) and BMI, which was higher in the females (20.37± 2.61 and 22.56 ± 4.55, for the males and females respectively (p < 0.05). In both groups there was a significant association between urinary hydroxyproline and urinary calcium (r = 0.845, p < 0.001, and r = 0.412, p < 0.001) for females and males respectively. Urinary calcium and hydroxyproline was associated with age in the female (r = 0.530, p < 0.001) only. Bone mass correlated with urinary calcium in the males (r = -0.356, p < 0.05), while urinary hydroxyproline was inversely associated with PCA in the female group. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that in this study, the best urinary and anthropometric determinants of bone mass were urinary calcium and height in the males, and weight and age in the females. Furthermore, urinary hydroxyproline was the best predictor of PCA in both male and female subjects. The relationships observed between BMI, age, urinary hydroxyproline, urinary calcium, and bone density indices suggest that these variables can be used to monitor or assess bone status in healthy individuals. (Journal of Applied Sciences & Environmental Management: 2003 7(1): 19-24)