The Relation among Bone Mineral Density, Ca and Mg Contents in Hair and Nail, and Nutrient Intakes of Preschool Children in Chungnam District

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to examine the correlation among bone mineral density (BMD), hair and nail calcium and magnesium contents, and nutrient intakes in preschool children in Chungnam district. A total of 111 preschool children (61 boys, 50 girls) measured the anthropometric characteristics, the bone mineral density of carpus using DEXA and hair and nail calcium and magnesium contents were analyzed by ICP spectrometer. The average ages of the study subjects were 55.7 months in boys and 53.0 months in girls (3.8~7 years). The birth height and weight of subjects were 51.0 cm and 3.3 kg in boys and 50.3cm and 3.2kg in girls, respectively. The average height, weight, % body fat, and obesity index were 111.6 cm, 19.6 kg, 15.0%, 96.1% in boys and 108.6 cm, 18.5 kg, 17.5%, 98.1% in girls, respectively. The bone mineral density in carpus was 0.25 g/cm2 in boys and 0.24 g/cm2 in girls. The hair calcium and magnesium contents were 440.9 ppm, 16.4 ppm in boys and 373.2 ppm, 28.9 ppm in girls. The nail calcium and magnesium contents were 9.4 ppm, 2.1 ppm in boys and 10.4 ppm, 2.4 ppm in girls. The intakes of energy, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, niacin, and vitamin C did not meet the Korean RDAs. The ultradis and average carpus BMD were positively correlated to the plant calcium intake (p < 0.05, p < 0.05). And the ultradis, distal, and average carpus BMD were positively correlated to the plant iron intake (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). The average bone mineral density in the carpus was positively correlated to the nail magnesium content (p < 0.05). Therefore, more systematic studies to investigate the roles of iron and calcium intakes, nail magnesium content in bone development of preschool children were required.