The trabecular effect: A population-based longitudinal study on age and sex differences in bone mineral density and vertebral load bearing capacity.

•Failure load and volumetric bone mineral density decline over time and are sex dependent.•Trabecular bone accounts for 70% of the overall vertebral load bearing capacity.•Trabecular failure load decline is significantly higher than cortical.•Positive correlation between estimated failure loads and dual X-ray absorptiometry.•Non-invasive method may improve prevention and diagnosis of fragility fractures.