ONE-YEAR CHANGE IN THE SECOND METACARPAL BONE MASS ASSOCIATED WITH MENOPAUSE NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Objectives: To clarify the annual changes and effects of nutrition and physical activity on bone mass at the second metacarpal using computed X-ray densitometry. Design: Population-based prospective follow-up study. Measurements: Bone mass measurements and assessments of nutritional intake, exercise habits, and health status were conducted twice with a one-year interval. Participant: 269 Japanese women aged 40 - to -80 - years old. Results: The annual change rate among subjects who started menopause during the observation period was -4.2±4.9%. Bone mass subsequently continued to decrease 3% annually until 6 years after menopause. Subjects who consumed high levels of milk or calcium in the first year showed no substantial decrease in bone mass among the post-menopausal subjects. Premenopausal subjects who began or continued exercise evidenced increased bone mass, and peri-menopausal subjects who continued exercise or a high level of daily physical activity showed inhibited bone loss. Conclusion: Second metacarpal bone changed by menopause, nutrition and physical activity similar with other bone site presented in the previous studies