Abstract
Bones are important parts in sustaining the shape of the body, but they are also metabolic organs which undergo bone remodeling by constant bone resorption and formation. Osteoporosis, the typical metabolic bone disease, is characterized by a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD). Women more than men are at risk fir osteoporosis-related fractures, especially in the lumbar spine, wrist, and hip region. Risk of fracture depends on one's BMD, which open determined by the peak bone mass value achieved at skeletal maturity and followed by subsequent age-and menopause-related bone loss. Genetic and environmental factors are known to play a key role in bone metabolism and diet is considered as one of the important environmental factors. The purpose of the present study was to assess the status of BMD and bone mineral content(BMC) to clarify the relationships between dietary intakes and the risk of osteoporosis in adult women in Taegu. Subjects were 130 healthy females in between 20 and 69 years of age. BMD and BMC of the lumbar spine(venebrae L2-4) of the subjects were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The average age of the subjects was 47.4${\pm}$11.7 years old, the average weight was 57.2${\pm}$8.4kg, the average age of menarche was 16.6${\pm}$1.9 years old and the average age of menopause was 48.4${\pm}$5.3 years old. The nutrient intakes of the subjects measured by the convenient method were generally lower than the level of RDA. The result of nutrient intake assessed has shown that the average energy intake was 1701${\pm}$316kca1 which is 85.1% of the RDA and the average calcium intake was 485.4${\pm}$172.3mg which is 69.3% of the RDA. The intakes of protein, vitamin A, vitamin B$_1$, niacin were greater than the RDA, whereas the remaining nutrient intakes were lower than the RDA. The average BMD of the subjects was shown to be 1.06${\pm}$1.09g/$\textrm{cm}^2$. The highest BMD of 1.24${\pm}$0.14g/$\textrm{cm}^2$ was noticed in the subjects of 30s compared to 20s, 40s, 50s, 60s. The BMD values were compared by the relative body weight(R3W) of the menopause subjects, and it was found that the underweight group had significant lower BMB while the rest of the groups did not have any differences in BMD. The most strongly correlated nutrient with BMD among the menopause subjects appeared to be calcium. The women whose Ca intakes were higher than 500mg showed the significantly higher BMD than those with Ca intakes lower than 500mg. This study suggests that the most effective way to prevent osteoporosis and to reduce the incidences of fractures seems to be minimizing bone loss through the adequate intake of calcium as well as avoiding underweight, especially in menopausal women. (Korean J Nutrition 31(9) . 1446-1456, 1998)
