Effect of Dietary, Biochemical and Other Factors on Bone Mineral Density Change for 2 Years in Korean College Women

Song, Yoon Ju; Paik, Hee Young

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine whether bone mineral density changes in 55 young Korean college women aged 19 to 26 years over 2 years and nutritional and biochemical factors are related. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), ward's triangle (WT), and femoral trochanter (FT) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry three times at one-year intervals. Serum osteocalcin (OC), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and urinary cross-linked N-teleopeptides of type collagen (NTx) were measured. Dietary intake was assessed 8 times with 24-hour recall method. Physical activity (PA) was obtained by questionnaire and body fat content was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis at baseline and after 2 years. Analyses were performed on 34 subjects with all three BMD measurements. The BMDs at the lumbar spine gradually increased over 2 years, while the BMDs of three sites at the femur were sustained or increased. The mean OC, PTH had a similar pattern with the change of BMD at the femur. The mean NTx decreased over 2 years but was still higher than those in other studies. BMI, body fat, vitamin A and zinc intake had a significant correlation with LS-BMD. Femur, PTH, body fat, vitamin A, vitamin B2 and calcium intake had a significant correlation with WT-BMD and was mostly influenced by diet. By multiple regression analysis, it was shown that the significant factors affecting the LS-BMD were BMI and vitamin A intake and those affecting FN and WT were age, BMI, PTH and calcium intake. These results indicate that some Korean women still experience increases in BMD and that this was associated with PTH and vitamin A and calcium intake. Therefore, proper diet and diet management is needed to increase changes in BMD among college women.