Association between current nutrient intakes and bone mineral density at calcaneus in pre- and postmenopausal Japanese women.

The association between nutrient intake and bone mineral density (BMD) at calcaneus was cross-sectionally examined in 243 pre- (aged 29-60 years) and 137 postmenopausal (aged 39-60 years) Japanese women who participated in a BMD checkup and have kept a stable diet for at least 3 previous years and had no dietary therapy. Nutrient intakes were assessed with a self-administered diet history questionnaire. BMD at calcaneus was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In a multiple regression analysis with adjustments for nondietary factors such as age, body height, fat body weight, nonfat body weight, and number of deliveries, calcium (p<0.01) and niacin (p<0.05) significantly and positively, and phosphorus and dietary fiber (p<0.05 for both) significantly and negatively correlated in premenopausal women, and only potassium (p<0.05) significantly and positively correlated in postmenopausal women with BMD. The results suggest that several nutrients correlate with BMD, and the associations differ depending on menopausal status. epidemiology, diet, nutrients, bone mineral density. Japanese women