RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the associations of the potential risk factors including reproductive history and lifestyle factors with bone mineral density at postmenopause. METHODS: The bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and physical and anthropometric data were obtained in 187 healthy postmenopausal women aged 45 to 73. Informations about risk factors were assessed by questionairres including medicosurgical and family history, reproductive history and lifestyle factors (dietary calcium intake, past use of oral contraceptives, consumption of alcohol and caffeine, smoking habits and exercise pattern). RESULTS: 1) Each prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was 43.9% and 16.6% in postmenopausal women. 2) In simple correlation analysis between each risk factor and bone mineral density, factors associated with higher level in body mineral density (BMD) were body mass index (BMI)(p<0.01) and reproductive periods (p<0.05) in lumar spine and femur neck, and exerecise strength in femur neck (p<0.05). On the other hand, more aging and longer postmnopausal periods, lower BMD in lumbar spine and femur (p<0.01) and later menarche, lower BMD in lumbar spine (p<0.01) and femur neck (p<0.05) and higher frequencies of parity were influenced on lower BMD in lumbar spine and femur wards (p<0.01) and femur neck (p<0.05). But the other factors had no relation to BMD. 3) There was no significant difference in BMD according to the amount of diet calcium intake, gravity, lactation, the past use of oral contraceptives, the family history of osteoporosis, smoking habits and intake of caffeine and alcohol. 4) No reproductive history and other risk factors were significantly associated with BMD after the influences of age, postmenopausal periods and BMI were adjusted in multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: These results show there are no consistent effects on bone mineral density, after adjusting for age and BMI, of reproductive history and any other risk factors in postmenopausal women.