Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), which demonstrates structural quality of bone tissue
(quality), and speed of sound (SOS), which shows the volume of bone minerals (quantity), of os calcis,
were measured on 358 healthy female students by means of ultrasound bone densitometry. General data
on the students were also obtained: 1) physical characteristics - height, weight, lean body mass (LBM),
body fat percentage (%Fat); 2) serum calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and alkaliphosphatase (ALP); 3) menstruation cycle, any special dietary details, nutritional balance of food intake. Finally, stepwize multiple
regression analysis of BUA in relation to the students' physical characteristics, serum minerals and ALP
was carried out.
Results were as follows: positive correlations existed between BUA and SOS (r =+0.523, p<0.001),
and BUA and all physical characteristics (height: r = +0.230, weight: r = +0.384,LBM: r = +0.368,
%Fat: r = +0.265, p<0.001). In the next step, the sample was divided into four groups according to
BUA and SOS values: Group 1 (185 subjects) under the mean BUA value, Group 2 (163 subjects) over
the mean BUA value, Group 3 (194 subjects) under the mean SOS value, and Group 4 (154 subjects)
over the mean SOS value. It was only in Group 1 that a positive correlation between BUA and all physical characteristics (p<0.001),and BUA and SOS (p<0.05) existed. The multiple regression analysis
showed that SOS, LBM and %Fat contributed significantly and positively to variations in BUA, while
serum ALP and Fe contributed negatively. However, variations in height, weight, and serum Ca were not
found to be significant.
In conclusion, positive correlations existed between bone quality and quantity. Above all, the former
has a closer relation to general physical characteristics. In the immature bone quality group (Group 1),
the students with more developed physical characteristics also showed a higher level of bone quality. We
assume Group 1 will attain the final stage of both physical development and bone growth.
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