Differences Between Right-and Left-Femoral Bone Mineral Densities in Right-and Left-Handed Men and Women

Abstract

To test whether handedness has an asymmetric effect on femur bone mineral density (BMD), the right- and left-proximal femur BMDs were compared in 124 right- and 23 left-handed university students. In the right-handed men, the mean left-femur BMD was significantly greater than the right-femur. In the left-handed men, the mean right-femur BMD was significantly greater than the left-femur. There were no significant differences between BMDs from the right- and left-femurs in women. These results suggest that hand preference may be related to asymmetry in BMD, but only for men.

Key Words:

• handedness
• bone mineral density
• sex difference