OBJECTIVES: The panoramic-based indices (Mandibular Cortical Index-MCI, the height of mandibular inferior cortex-IC (mm), Panoramic Mandibular Index-PMI, Mandibular Ratio-MR) were used to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy and to determine whether they correlate with bone mineral density (BMD (g/cm(2))) of the mandible and hip, and with ultrasound parameters of the calcaneus and hand phalanges in postmenopausal, edentulous women. METHODS: Basing on MCI women were divided into three subgroups differed in the appearance of the mandibular cortex (C1 n=6, C2 n=16, C3 n=8). BMD of the hip (neck-BMD, Ward's-BMD, trochanteric BMD) and mandible (m-BMD) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Calcaneus using Achilles (Speed of Sound-SOS (m/s), Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation-BUA [dB/MHz], Stiffness Index-SI [%]) and hand phalanges (amplitude dependent speed of sound-Ad-SoS (m/s)) using DBM Sonic 1200 were assessed by Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between subgroups in parameters measured except for significant differences in m-BMD (P<0.01). Only m-BMD correlated significantly with DXA (r=0.43-0.45, P<0.05) and QUS (r=0.36-0.55, P<0.05) measurements excluding correlations with calcaneal SOS and trochanteric BMD. The ability of the mandibular variables to discriminate between normal and osteopenic/osteoporotic cases was assessed by calculating: specificity (ranging from 31 to 81%), sensitivity (ranging from 21 to 93%), negative and positive predictive values (ranging from 47 to 83% and 40 to 79%, respectively). CONCLUSION: MCI is a simple three-graded classification of changes in the cortex but is not able to distinguish normal and osteopenic/osteoporotic postmenopausal edentulous women. The efficacy of the panoramic-based mandibular indices in diagnosing osteopenia/osteoporosis is low to moderate.

Objective: The incidence of osteoporosis increases with age and is most frequently observed in postmenopausal women. The objective of the present population-based cohort study was to assess the influence of Ca intake from dairy sources on hip bone mineral density and hip fracture incidence in a group of Polish women over 55 years of age. Design: The main outcome measures included: bone mineral density, the number of previous fractures and the reported Ca intake from dairy sources, assessed by a diet questionnaire. Setting: The RAC-OST-POL Study was conducted in the District of Raciborz in the south of Poland. Subjects: The study was carried out in a group of 625 women, randomly recruited from the general population of women aged >55 years. Results: Median Ca intake from dairy products was lower in the group of women with femoral neck T-score ≤–2·5 than in the group with T-score >–2·5 (275 v. 383 mg/d; P = 0·0019). For total hip score, the difference was close to borderline significance (P = 0·0698). Median Ca intake from dairy products was lower in the group of women with previous fractures than in those without fracture history (336 v. 395 mg/d; P = 0·0254). The main dairy source of Ca in the analysed group included milk drinks, rennet cheese and milk. Conclusions: Higher dairy Ca intake is recommended, since a number of the women analysed were unable to satisfy their Ca requirement exclusively from their diet.

The main aim of this cross-sectional study was the estimation of relationships between mandibular bone mineral density (m-BMD), hip bone mineral densities (BMDs) and quantitative ultrasound at calcaneus and hand phalanges. Correlations between m-BMD and age, years since menopause (YSM) and body size were also evaluated. 42 edentulous persons (36 females and 6 males aged 60.5 +/- 6.9 years) were evaluated. In the group studied no factors affecting bone metabolism (either medical conditions or medications) were noted. Bone status was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (mandible, hip--Lunar DPX-L), and quantitative ultrasound (calcaneus--Lunar Achilles which measures speed of sound (SOS, m s-1) and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA, dB MHz-1); and phalanges of the hand--DBM Sonic 1200 which measures amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SOS, m s-1)). CV% for mandibular measurements was 2.06%. m-BMD correlated significantly with the following measurements: femoral neck r = 0.39, p < 0.01; Ward's r = 0.39, p < 0.01; calcaneal BUA r = 0.39, p < 0.01; and phalangeal AD-SOS r = 0.4, p < 0.01. Negative correlation consistent with a significant decrease with age was observed in m-BMD (r = -0.36, p < 0.05) and AD-SOS (r = -0.4, p < 0.01). BMD in the mandible also decreased with YSM (r = -0.47, p < 0.01). m-BMD was correlated with age, YSM, height and weight in stepwise, multiple, linear regression analysis. The following equation was obtained: m-BMD = -2.21 + 0.018 x height (cm) -0.02 x YSM (years) + 0.13 x age (years). It may be concluded that mandibular BMD may be an appropriate measurement site for the evaluation of skeletal status in osteoporosis.