The relationship between nutrient intake and bone mineral density by use of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To determine the relationship between nutrient intake and bone mineral density(BMD), we have investigated this issue by the use of a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. METHODS: A total of 312 women aged 33-77 was divided into two groups, 187 premenopausal and 125 postmenopausal women. Dietary intake was assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire. DMD was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine (lumbar vertebrae 2-4). Pearson correlation and partial correlation coefficients were calculated for each nutrient at the lumbar spine BMD. RESULTS: The mean age of the 312 participants was 48 years, and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.7+/-2.8 Kg/m2. Forty percent of the women were in postmenopausal state. The mean lumbar BMD was 1.117g/cm2. Age was negatively correlated with BMD in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, BMI was positively correlated with BMD in postmenopausal women, but smoking and exercise were not correlated with BMD. In premenopausal women, nutrient intakes were not associated with BMD. A significant association was found between intakes of fat, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C and BMD in postmenopausal women, but after adjusting for age, body mass index, energy intake, smoking, exercise, and use of hormone replacement therapy, there was no association. CONCLUSION: There was no significant association between nutrient intakes and BMD of the lumbar spine.