Does Quantitative Ultrasound at the Calcaneus Predict an Osteoporosis Diagnosis in Postmenopausal Women from the Silesia Osteo Active Study?

The aims of the study were to assess the clinical conformity between quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and densitometry with use of the standard World Health Organization T-score thresholds to determine optimal diagnostic cutoff values for QUS T-scores in different age groups. Three hundred sixty-five postmenopausal Caucasian women were enrolled into the study and divided into two age groups (<65 y and ≥65 y). Skeletal status was assessed using QUS measurements at the calcaneus and bone densitometry at the spine and proximal femur (Hologic Explorer, Bedford, MA, USA). QUS measurement results expressed as the stiffness index (SI) correlated significantly with both femoral neck bone mineral density (r = 0.51, p < 0.0001) and lumbar spine bone mineral density (r = 0.52, p < 0.0001). On the basis of receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, the thresholds for correspondence between QUS T-score values and T-score -2.5SD in dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were established. They ranged between -1.63SD and -1.70SD in relation to femoral neck DXA and between -1.22SD and -1.51SD in relation to lumbar spine DXA, depending on age category. In conclusion, the study described here confirmed that QUS measurements at the calcaneus may provide information comparable to DXA examinations at the femoral neck and lumbar spine in postmenopausal women.

Relevance of the semi-quantitative short Food Frequency Questionnaire in assessment of calcium consumption by female inhabitants of Zabrze over the age of 55 years (the Silesia Osteo Active Study).

In the study, we compare two methods used to assess the effects of nourishment on the bone status. Statistical analysis demonstrated a moderate conformity of both methods. Short Food Frequency Questionnaires can be used as short medical screening tool for calcium intake among women over 55 years of life. INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a civilisation disease, the development of which is, among others, controlled and affected by diet. The factors which promote the health of bones include calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium, and protein. A number of nutritional epidemiology methods can be applied to assess the effects of nourishment on the bone status, e.g. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) in its full or short (sFFQ) version or 3-day food record (3DFR). Both methods are known and widely used tools. METHODS: In the reported study, we attempted to compare and assess the sFFQ and 3DFR tools. Both methods were employed to examine 156 women, the majority of whom presented with an overweight-indicating BMI. An analysis of sFFQ data brought an observation that most of the studied patients (33.3%) consumed milk once a day. RESULTS: Based on 3DFR and sFFQ, we compared the measured volumes of consumed calcium which were 557.8 mg/day and 880.7 mg/day, respectively. The Cohen's kappa calculator was used for a diagnostic evaluation of both tools; the kappa index was 0.5047, demonstrating a moderate conformity of both methods. In addition, sensitivity and specificity indices were calculated, revealing the values of 97% and 12%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: sFFQ can be used as a short medical screening. It is suggested to use both the 3DFR, conducted by the patient, and sFFQ, as a complementary method. It is necessary to continue this type of studies and to standardise the methods of nutritional status assessment with regard to selected groups.

Calcium supplementation from dairy products in the diet of women over the age of 55 from Zabrze (the Silesian Osteoactive Study - nutritional part).

OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of the study was to assess calcium intake among women over the age of 55. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study participants were randomly selected from the female population of Zabrze, a town in the Upper Silesia Region in Poland, making use of the framework of the Silesia Osteoactive Study Project. The Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (sFFQ) was used for nutritional assessment. A total of 388 women at the median age of 65.2 years responded to written and mailed invitations and decided to participate in the study. RESULTS: The mean calcium intake in the group of enrolled post-menopausal women was 886.9 ±615.1 mg/day. Only 32.9% of the participants met the daily calcium intake criterion of > 1000 g/day (the Estimated Average Requirement of 1000 mg according to the Nutrition Standards from 2017 for women in the age group of 51-65 years). Calcium supplementation, identified among women over the age of 55 years in Zabrze, was not sufficient and significantly differed from indicated nutrition standards. Fermented dairy products were the main source of calcium for the studied women. The quantity of calcium provided from yoghurts, kefirs and buttermilk was 338.3 mg/day. The level of consumption of fortified plant products, e.g., soy milk, was found to be very low. Some of the study participants (approximately 32%) reported the intake of calcium supplements or OTC medicinal products with calcium. CONCLUSIONS: Summing up, the studied women reported low calcium intake levels, which calls for appropriate adjustments, including either dietary modifications or proper supplementation programmes with calcium containing agents.

The role of physical activity in early adulthood and middle-age on bone health after menopause in epidemiological population from Silesia Osteo Active Study.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a growing problem in women after menopause. Among factors protecting from this disease is a physical activity (PA). AIM: The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of PA in early adulthood and at middle-age on bone health after menopause. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 362 randomly recruited postmenopausal women after menopause. Mean age was 65.2±6.9 years. Medical history was collected from all participants, and they completed questionnaires assessing PA in early adulthood and at middle-age. Physical capacity was estimated using the Duke scale. Bone status was measured with use of densitometry (DXA) for lumbar spine and hip and calcaneus quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements. RESULTS: Physical activity and healthy lifestyle activity in early adulthood did not correlate with bone health, but current PA did (for QUS parameters r=.11; P<.05). Physical capacity correlated with all QUS parameters (r=.2 to .22; P<.05) and femoral neck (FN) BMD and T-score (for both r=.16; P<.05). Current PA frequency at the level of several times a week has the highest positive impact on FN DXA results (P=.01). Bone mass in DXA and QUS variables is related to the type of exercises (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Physical activity, especially several times a week, at middle-age is a major factor influencing bone health in women after menopause. Further studies concerning the type of exercises are needed.