Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the best site for bone mineral density (BMD) measurements based on T-scores, age, and beverage consumption.
Material and methods: In this prospective study, 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. Participants were also evaluated regarding alcohol and caffeine consumption by a semiquantitative questionnaire.
Results: A significant discrepancy was observed in the classification of osteoporosis at different locations, with hip and forearm showing the best correlation (Pearson’s r = 0.627, p < 0.001). In addition, for participants over 50 years of age, hip and forearm showed the best correlation. Significant correlations were also noted between forearm T-scores and caffeine consumed and, to a lesser extent, the level of alcohol consumption. In the group ≤ 50 years of age, lumbar spine and forearm T-scores were only associated with alcohol consumption. In the group over 50 years of age, hip and forearm T-scores were only associated with caffeine consumption.
Conclusions: Bone mineral density measurements at the hip and forearm correlated with caffeine consumption in elderly Taiwanese women. This is an important finding since age and caffeine consumption are known risk factors for osteoporosis.