You may not have given it much thought before, but the density of your bones can have huge implications to your health. Not only does your bone density indicate your risk for osteoporosis and fractures, but it could also affect your risk of breast cancer.
Bone mineral density (BMD) or your amount of mineral density per square metre of bone, is used as an indirect indicator of osteoporosis and fracture risk in women. It is normally tested using a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, and scored by two measures – your T-score and Z-score – which are used to determine how your BMD varies from the average. This is defined and standardised internationally by the World Health Organization (WHO), and corrected for age and ethnicity. If your T-score is -1.0 or higher, you have a normal BMD. Osteoporosis is defined as a BMD T-score of -2.5 or lower.
Your BMD tends to lower with age, and it also differs in different ethnic groups. Asians have a lower BMD compared to Caucasians, yet no differences are found when adjusted for height and weight. Your risk of developing osteoporosis is higher if you are older, are going through/have been through menopause, have low oestrogen levels, low body weight, a family history of the condition, use steroids, or consume heavy amounts of alcohol.
Oestrogen decreases your bone density, which is why menopause is a risk factor of osteoporosis. During menopause, your oestrogen levels drop, your bones become less dense, and therefore fracture easily. You can reduce your risk of osteoporosis fractures after menopause, on the other hand, with oestrogen replacement therapy. However, oestrogen replacement therapy could do more harm than good to your wellbeing, as it has been known to increase the risk of breast cancer.
In fact, some wellness experts have suggested that your bone mineral density is a surrogate marker for your exposure to oestrogen across your lifetime, which is a risk factor for developing breast cancer. Therefore, as studies have shown an association between a normal and high BMD in post-menopausal women and breast cancer risk, if you are considering oestrogen replacement therapy you should consult your physician or look online for more information about the risks.
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