Bone mineral density in university aged Saudi females

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate bone mineral density (BMD) in young Saudi females (20-25 years) using Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), as it is a widely utilized modality for the measurement of BMD, used for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and osteopenia. METHODS BMD measurements were performed in the spine and the neck of the femur in 101 young females. RESULTS 37% and 34% patients had osteopenia in the spine and the neck of the femur respectively, BMD values = 0.98 and 0.81 gm/cm(2) respectively). Whereas 5% had osteoporosis in the spine area, BMD values = 0.82 gm/cm(2)). Of the 101 subjects, 53 (52.5%) young females did not suffer from osteopenia in either both site, whereas 23 (22.7%) females had osteopenia in both sites, the remaining 25 subjects (25% of the subject included) had either osteopenia or osteoporosis in one of the sites. A strong association between BMD values with weight was found. CONCLUSIONS We found that one third of the young Saudi females sampled suffer from osteopenia. Additionally, body weight has a positive relationship with bone mineral density.