One common measurement of bone health is a BMD test.[1] A BMD test measures bone density in the hip and lumbar spine. It is used to diagnose osteoporosis, predict fracture risk, and monitor therapeutic outcomes. The results of a BMD test are provided as a T-score, which compares your BMD to established norms for your sex, age, and other demographic information. Results of a BMD test are presented as “normal”, “low bone mass”, “osteoporosis”, and “severe or established osteoporosis”.
Other measures that may be used to assess bone health include imaging (e.g., X-rays), genetic testing, and blood tests for hormones (e.g., growth hormone, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, cortisol, and sex hormones); markers of bone turnover (e.g., C-telopeptide crosslink, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, and amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen); and certain nutrients (e.g., vitamin D and calcium).