Abstract
Dietary and other factors affecting bone density of 32 Korean healthy college women aged 19-23 years were assessed. Data for food and nutrient intake was obtained by a semiquantitiative food frequency questionnaire. Serum samples were anlayzed for total Ca, P, Ca++, PTH, calcitonin and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol , (25-OH-Vit D3) and BMDs of lumbar spine(L2-L4), femoral neck(FN), ward's triangle (WT) and trochanter(TR) were measured by an XR-series X-ray bone densitometer. Relationships between the factors and BMDs were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient(r). The results are summarized as follows. Mean daily intake of energy(86.1%), Ca(74.3%), vitamin A (53.75), Fe(49.75) and vitamin B$_2$(86.6%) were lower while other notrients incuding P(126%) were higher than the Korean RDA. The BMDs of lumbar spines and femurs ranged from 0.73g/$\textrm{cm}^2$ to 1.23g/$\textrm{cm}^2$and 0.48g/$\textrm{cm}^2$ to 1.04g/$\textrm{cm}^2$, respectively. Both protein and P intakes were inversely associated with serum total Ca. Furthermore, Ca intake as well as Ca/P ratio (Ca/P) were inversely associated with serum ionized Ca(Ca++) concentration. The intakes of protein P and Ca , however, were not significantly associated with the BMDs measured in this study. There were little association between BMDs and alcoholic beverage or caffeine consumption. The only significant association detected was a positive relationship between caffeine consumption and BMD of WT. It seemed to be noticeable that BMDs of L2-L$_4$, FN and WT were significantly inversely associated with serum P concentration. However, there was no significant association between BMDs and the levels of total Ca to Ca++ in serum. Body weight was positively associated with BMD of lumbar spine and BMI was also positively associated with BMDs of FN and WT. The subjects who had an early menarche appeared to have higher BMDs than those who had had a late mearche. According to stepwise multiple regression analysis. Menarche and BMI were stronger determinants of BMDs in the young women than was diet. P intake appeared to be a more potent dietary determinant than Ca intake. The three factors, menarche, BMI , and P intake , additionally accounted for 24% and 378% of the variance in BMDs of FN and L$_2$-L$_4$, respectively. Further investigation is necessary to determine the factors needed to increase serum P level which negatively affects. BMD in young Korean college women.