Prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia at the lumbar spine as measured by dual energy x ray absorptiometry in athletic populations considered at risk of the female athlete triad
| Reference | Population studied (age as mean (SD)) | Number of subjects in the at risk population | Prevalence of either osteoporosis or osteopenia | Mean T score for group (lumbar spine unless stated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A T score between −1.0 and −2.5 represents osteopenia. | ||||
| Lauder et al4 | Military recruits aged 27.5 (7.7) | 423 | 0% osteoporosis, 1.4% osteopenia | Not given |
| Young et al33 | Elite ballet school students aged 17 (1.2), all had menstrual disturbance | 44 | 0% osteoporosis, 22% osteopenia | −2.1 at the lumbar spine (osteopenia), +2.1 at the femoral neck (normal) |
| Rutherford34 | Amenorrhoeic triathletes and distance runners aged 29.5 (7.5) | 15 | 13% osteoporosis, 40% osteopenia | −1.5 (osteopenia) |
| Tomten et al35 | Runners with menstrual disturbance aged 27.6 (5.8) | 13 | Not given | −1.2 (estimated from graph = mild osteopenia) |
| Drinkwater et al36 | Amenorrhoeic runners and rowers aged 24.9 (4.7) | 13 | Not given | −1.6 (osteopenia) |
| Cann et al37 | Women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea (all but one were runners) aged 27.3 (6.1) | 11 | Not given | −1.3 (mild osteopenia) |
| Nelson et al38 | Amenorrhoeic distance runners aged 25.2 (4.7) | 11 | Not given | −0.97 (normal, borderline osteopenia) |
| Warren et al12 | Amenorrhoeic dancers aged 19 (3.4) | 22 | Not given | −0.88 (normal) |
| Pettersson et al39 | Amenorrhoeic distance runners aged 21.8 (3.0) | 10 | 10% osteoporosis, 50% osteopenia | −1.4 (estimated from graph = mild osteopenia) |
| Micklesfield et al10 | Amenorrhoeic ultramarathon runners aged 35 (4.3). | 10 | Not given but probably a significant number with osteoporosis | −2.1 (osteopenia) |
| Myburgh et al40 | Amenorrhoeic college athletes aged 29.3 (6.9) years | 9 | Not given | −1.2 (mild osteopenia) |