DO DIETARY ANTIOXIDANTS PREVENT POSTMENOPAUSAL BONE LOSS

The role of dietary antioxidants in osteoporosis has not been well exp lored. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship bet ween the dietary antioxidants, vitamin E and beta-carotene, and hip bo ne mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Subjects were 1892 s creenees, aged 55-80 years, who were volunteers for a clinical trial. Bone densitometry and osteoporosis risk factor information was obtaine d during screening. Dietary and supplement information was obtained by mailed food frequency and vitamin supplement questionnaires. We found no evidence of an association between dietary and/or supplemental vit amin E and bone density of the femoral neck. Dietary beta-carotene, ad justed for age and weight was positively associated with hip BMD (beta = 1.5 x 10(-6) gm/cm(2), p = 0.05). Further adjustment for osteoporos is risk factors diminished the association (beta = 0.7 x 10(-6)gm/cm(2 ), p = 0.38). Neither total nor supplemental beta-carotene intake was found to be associated with BMD. We did not find that vitamin E or bet acarotene was associated with femoral neck bone density in postmenopau sal women, however, the potential role of antioxidants and other nutri ents in postmenopausal bone loss warrants further study, including res earch of other bone sites. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.