ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between low muscle mass and osteoporosis in the Korean general population. METHODS: We analyzed 14,429 participants (6,261 men and 8,168 women) from the 2009-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) aged 20 years or more. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The association of low muscle mass with osteoporosis was investigated using multivariate logistic regression models that included age, marital status, residence, current smoking, monthly drinking, physical activities, strength exercise, comorbidity, and the use of dietary supplements, and in women postmenopausal status and experience of pregnancy. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, low muscle mass was significantly associated with osteoporosis in the lumbar spine and femoral neck in both men (lumbar spine: OR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.08-2.76; femoral neck: OR 3.39, 95 % CI 1.69-6.80) and women (lumbar spine: OR 1.52, 95 % CI 1.17-1.97; femoral neck: OR 2.09, 95 % CI 1.56-2.80). Also, the association between low muscle mass and osteoporosis was significant in men and women in every age group except for men aged 50-64 years. CONCLUSION: Low muscle mass was significantly associated with osteoporosis in both men and women for all age groups, except for men aged 50-64 years.