Bone Health

Predictors of Low Bone Mass

• increased age
• female gender
• Caucasian race
• low weight and body mass index (BMI)
• menopause (especially if early)
• other estrogen deficiency
• family history of osteoporosis
• late age at first menstruation
• use of alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages, and smoking cigarettes is inconsistently associated with decreased bone mass. (This may correlate with nutritional deficits in heavy users.)