To evaluate the bone mass by bone density measurements in patients with distal radius fracture, a prospective open case-control study was carried out in the county of Uppsala, Sweden, with population-based cases and controls. There were 111 patients with a distal radius fracture who were otherwise healthy and aged 53–76 years, together with 60 healthy controls of similar age, sex and menopausal status. The main outcome measures were bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine and hip measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and in the (non-fractured) distal forearm determined by single-photon absorptiometry. It was found that at all measuring sites BMD was significantly lower in cases than in controls. The difference in the distal forearm was around 20% (p<0.001) and="" in="" the="" spine="" and="" hip="" 5%–8%="">p<0.05–0.001). in="" the="" healthy="" subjects="" there="" were="" positive="" correlations="">r=0.39–0.65;p<0.002) between="" the="" forearm="" bmd="" and="" that="" of="" both="" the="" spine="" and="" hip,="" whereas="" in="" the="" patients="" with="" distal="" radius="" fracture="" there="" was="" only="" a="" weak="" correlation="" between="" the="" forearm="" and="" spine="" bmd="">r=0.28;p<0.05) and="" no="" association="" between="" the="" bmd="" of="" the="" forearm="" and="" hip="">r<0.01). it="" is="" concluded="" that="" patients="" with="" distal="" radius="" fracture="" who="" are="" otherwise="" healthy="" have="" a="" preferential="" bone="" loss="" at="" the="" distal="" forearm="" but="" also="" a="" generally="" low="" bone="" mass.="" patients="" with="" fracture="" of="" the="" distal="" radius="" fracture="" should="" be="" considered="" for="" prophylactic="" measures="" against="">