TEENAGE AND CURRENT CALCIUM INTAKE ARE RELATED TO BONE-MINERAL DENSITY OF THE HIP AND FOREARM IN WOMEN AGED 30-39 YEARS

The relation between diet and bone mineral density in premenopausal wo men was evaluated in a cross-sectional study of 139 women aged 30-39 y ears. The population consisted of volunteers recruited in Rockland Cou nty, New York, between September 1988 and August 1992. A food frequenc y questionnaire was used to determine nutrient intake for both the yea r prior to bone density measurement and for ages 13-17 years. Physical measurements included height, weight, grip strength, and percent body fat. Bone mineral density was measured in the lumbar spine, hip, and forearm. Multiple regression equations were used to relate nutrient in take to bone density while controlling for age, height, weight, and gr ip strength. There were no relations between lumbar spine or distal fo rearm bone density and any nutrient studied from either the current or teenage diet. Current dietary calcium intake was modestly related to hip bone density (beta = 0.077; p = 0.074). When fiber intake was adde d to the multiple regression model, the association between calcium an d hip bone density was strengthened (beta = 0.101; p = 0.037); this wo uld be expected, because fiber interferes with calcium absorption. In the teenage diet, phosphorus and calcium intake were related to hip bo ne density. A higher lifetime calcium intake was associated with a hig her hip bone density compared with low lifetime calcium intake. An inc rease in teenage calcium intake from 800 to 1,200 mg per day is estima ted to increase hip bone density by 6 percent.