Zhao-Min Liu1, Shelly Lap Ah Tse2, Bailing Chen3, Dicken Chan2, Carmen Wong2, Jean Woo4, Samuel Yeung-Shan Wong5. 1. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University (North Campus), Guangzhou, PR China. Electronic address: liuzhm8@mail.sysu.edu.cn. 2. Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 3. Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China. 4. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 5. Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: yeungshanwong@cuhk.edu.hk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The association of dietary sugar intake and skeletal health remains uncertain in the elderly. We aimed to investigate the association of sugar intake with the bone health and mortality of Chinese elderly. METHODS: An analysis was conducted through an 11-year longitudinal study (Mr. and Ms. OS Hong Kong). Four thousand Chinese elderly aged 65 and older were recruited from the local community between 2001 and 2003. Sugar intake was assessed at baseline by a validated 329-item Food Frequency Questionnaire and a local sugar database. The bone mineral density (BMD) was examined at baseline and the fourth year follow-up by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Data on the incidence of non-traumatic fractures (total, hip and osteoporotic sites) and all-cause mortality were collected. The multivariable logistic and Cox regression models were used to test the associations of sugar intake with bone health and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: No significant association was observed between sugar intakes and BMD changes in the fourth year's follow-up. During a total 34,483 person years' follow-up, we documented 433 non-traumatic fractures and 769 deaths. Although lack of significant association with the incidence of non-traumatic fractures, high added sugar intakes were significantly associated with a low risk of all-cause mortality among the elderly with a hazard ratio of 0.750 (95% CI: 0.590-0.954, P for trend = 0.007) in the highest quintile compared with that in the lowest quintile. CONCLUSION: The amount of sugar consumed by the Chinese elderly did not pose any risk of bone loss and fracture. Moreover, high sugar intake of the elderly was associated with a low rate of all-cause mortality.
BACKGROUND: The association of dietary sugar intake and skeletal health remains uncertain in the elderly. We aimed to investigate the association of sugar intake with the bone health and mortality of Chinese elderly. METHODS: An analysis was conducted through an 11-year longitudinal study (Mr. and Ms. OS Hong Kong). Four thousand Chinese elderly aged 65 and older were recruited from the local community between 2001 and 2003. Sugar intake was assessed at baseline by a validated 329-item Food Frequency Questionnaire and a local sugar database. The bone mineral density (BMD) was examined at baseline and the fourth year follow-up by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Data on the incidence of non-traumatic fractures (total, hip and osteoporotic sites) and all-cause mortality were collected. The multivariable logistic and Cox regression models were used to test the associations of sugar intake with bone health and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: No significant association was observed between sugar intakes and BMD changes in the fourth year's follow-up. During a total 34,483 person years' follow-up, we documented 433 non-traumatic fractures and 769 deaths. Although lack of significant association with the incidence of non-traumatic fractures, high added sugar intakes were significantly associated with a low risk of all-cause mortality among the elderly with a hazard ratio of 0.750 (95% CI: 0.590-0.954, P for trend = 0.007) in the highest quintile compared with that in the lowest quintile. CONCLUSION: The amount of sugar consumed by the Chinese elderly did not pose any risk of bone loss and fracture. Moreover, high sugar intake of the elderly was associated with a low rate of all-cause mortality.