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Elemental Composition in Female Dry Femora Using Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF): Association with Age and Osteoporosis

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Abstract

Pathophysiological conditions can modify the skeletal chemical concentration. This study analyzes the elemental composition in two anatomical regions from dry femoral bone using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) and evaluates its impact in the bone mineral density (BMD). The left femora of 97 female skeletons (21–95 years old individuals) from the Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection were studied. Diagenetic biases were discarded at the outset and BMD was determined with Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Chemical measurements were performed at the midpoint of the femoral neck and at the midshaft using a pXRF device, and comparisons were made considering the age and the BMD values. Only elements with a Technical Measurement Error ≤ 5% were selected: P, S, Ca, Fe, Zn, As, Sr, Pb and the Ca/P ratio. Statistically significant differences were found between regions, with higher concentrations of P, Ca, Zn and S at the midshaft, and the Ca/P ratio at the femoral neck. The concentration of P is higher in individuals < 50 years, while S and Ca/P ratio increase in individuals ≥ 50 years. The decrease of P with age can be simultaneously related to the decline of its concentration in osteoporosis. Decreased BMD is also associated with higher levels of S and Pb. Osteoporosis enhances the absorption of osteolytic elements in specific locations. This fast and non-destructive technique has proved effective for the comprehension of chemical changes related to bone mass loss. This study highlights the potential of identified skeletal collections to improve the knowledge about bone fragility.

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Fig. 1

source of emission should be perpendicular, fitting the distance between the device and the bone as minimal to reduce air pollution

Fig. 2

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Data Availability

Available upon request.

Abbreviations

pXRF:

Portable X-Ray Fluorescence

BMD:

Bone mineral density

rTEM:

Relative technical measurement error

DXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

OP:

Osteoporosis

CSIC:

Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection

s.d.:

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the ERASMUS+ internship [SZ] performed in the Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS: PEstOE/SADG/UI0283/2020) at the University of Coimbra and the FCT-Fellowship SFRH/BD/115691/2016 [AMC]. The authors express their gratitude to the Department of Life Sciences and to Sofia Wasterlain for authorizing the study of the identified skeletal collection, to the Department of Earth Sciences, Geosciences Center (CGeo) for the use of the pXRF device, and to Carlos Martínez-Toledano for the achievement of the illustrations. The authors also acknowledge the editorial board members and the two anonymous reviewers who improved the content of this paper through their suggestions and comments.

Funding

FCT-Fellowship SFRH/BD/115691/2016 [AMC], Erasmus + Program [SZ].

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Author notes

  1. Sofía Zdral

    Present address: Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC), Regulation of Gene Expression During Development Group, Calle Albert Einstein 22, 39011, Santander, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Anthropology Unit, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Sofía Zdral

  2. Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal

    Álvaro M. Monge Calleja, Francisco Curate & Ana Luisa Santos

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, Geosciences Center (CGeo), University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal

    Lidia Catarino

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Contributions

SZ, AMC and ALS designed research and analyzed data. LC and FC performed research and analyzed data. SZ and AMC wrote the manuscript and SZ, AMC, LC, FC and ALS edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sofía Zdral.

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Sofía Zdral, Álvaro M. Monge Calleja, Lidia Catarino, Francisco Curate, and Ana Luisa Santos declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Zdral, S., Monge Calleja, Á.M., Catarino, L. et al. Elemental Composition in Female Dry Femora Using Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF): Association with Age and Osteoporosis. Calcif Tissue Int 109, 231–240 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-021-00840-5

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