Journal of Bone Research
Open Access

Bone Mineral Density Importance and Testing

Hui Chien^{* *}Correspondence: Hui Chien, Department of Orthopedics, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Email:

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Description

As we all know bones give support and shape to body. To measure bones health we have to take a test called Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test. The inorganic component of bone tissue is called bone mineral. Bone mineral is also called as bone salt, bone apatite and inorganic bone phase. Bone mineral is mainly formed from carbonated hydroxyapatite. This test will help to find out the bone density related disease called Osteoporosis and fracture risk. And find out the mass of the mineral per volume. People having Osteoporosis have brittle bones i.e. bone will breaks to a small loads. And BMD test will help to measure the response towards osteoporosis treatment. The test is conducted by using small amount of ionizing radiation images of inside of the body is called Bone densitometry. Generally the test named Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) or DXA is conducted to diagnose the osteoporosis, this test is quick, simple and noninvasive. To conduct this test patient should not take calcium supplements at least one day before the test. The test is commonly conducted on upper part of the hip or lumbar spine in nuclear medicine and radiology departments.

The test results are taken as T-score, this score is a comparison between bone mineral densities to a healthy young adult bone mineral density. And the differences between BMD and young adult BMD are measured in units called Standard Deviations (SDs). Based on World Health Organization (WHO) bone density levels bone health has different conditions. If the standard deviation value is in between +1 to -1, then it state that a normal bone health. If the bone density standard deviation between is 1 and 2.5, then it states low bone mass. If the bone density is 2.5 standard deviations or more below the young adult mean i.e. -2.5 standard deviations or lower, then it indicates osteoporosis. When the bone density is more than 2.5 standard deviations below the young adult mean, it clearly indicates severe osteoporosis. And also Z-score is also considered, it is the value of standard deviations of an age matched normal above or below value to the mean for the patient’s age and this score considered in severe case of osteoporosis.

There are some other BMD tests are currently available, they are Dual X-ray Absorptiometry and Laser (DXL), Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS), Single Photon Absorptiometry (SPA), Quantitative Computer Tomography (QCT) and Digital X-ray Radiogrammetry (DXR). Widely used test for BMD is DXA, QUS test is a more cost-effective way to test bone mineral density.

Sometimes low bone mass can caused many other factors those are low body weight, when we take medication to treat some condition but, bones that negatively affect bone, and heredity. To prevent low bone density doctors recommended suggestion is to take sufficient amount of calcium and Vitamin D supplements. People having low bone mass and suffered with obesity have to do weight bearing exercises daily like running, jogging, hiking, cycling, dancing and walking. This test is recommended for people having drinking, smoking, and longterm use of corticosteroid drugs.