Introduction To clarify characteristics of bone fragility in middle-aged Japanese women, we have examined the correlation between bone quality by novel ultrasonic bone densitometry system and several biochemical markers of bone turnover.

Methods Subjects are 121 female applied for this study voluntarily. We evaluated which factors are related with bone quality, bone mineral density or bone elastic modulus as fragile risk in healthy Japanese population. We have measured bone metabolism markers (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP)-5b, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase). For the assessment of examined factors, we have divided the subjects into three subgroups according to the age (Group A: <49, Group B: 50–59, Group C: >60) and investigated the correlation of above-mentioned bone fragile index, biomarkers, and the menopausal reference (pre-menopause, peri-menopause, post-menopause).

Results 90 were included in Group A, 21 in Group B and 10 in Group C. Regarding the menopause status, approximately 90% of subjects in Group A had a menstruation regularly, 25% of subjects in Group B had a irregular menstruation and 60% showed the post-menopause. The bone mineral density and bone elastic modulus showed significantly lower in Group C than in Group A or B. The bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and TRACP-5b were significantly higher in Group B and C than in Group A (p<0.05) whereas no statistical differences of these parameters between Group B and C had been noted.

Conclusion The early screening or objective bone check-up analyses by individual are necessary as an initiative medical prevention of osteoporosis and bone fragility in middle-aged women.