Calcium and Bone Loss

Nutritional associations with bone loss during the menopausal transition: evidence of a beneficial effect of calcium, alcohol, and fruit and vegetable nutrients and of a detrimental effect of fatty acids1,2,3,4

Article Summary:

A review of the study on the nutritional associations between calcium, alcohol, fruit and vegetable nutrients, and fatty acids1,2,3,4 and bone loss during the menopausal transition. A total of 891 women between ages 45 to 55 at baseline participated in a longitudinal study for 5 to 7 years follow up. During the years of study, bone mineral density was measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Five years after the baseline visit, nutrients intakes were assessed by using the same food frequency questionnaire. The result showed a correlation between calcium intake and femoral neck bone mineral density. Correlations between other nutrients and femoral neck bone mineral density were also found during the

study. The study concluded that diet may influence early postmenopausal bone loss. Intakes of calcium, modest amounts of alcohol, fruit and vegetable nutrients may help protect against premenopausal bone loss.

Authors:

Helen M Macdonald, Susan A New, Michael HN Golden, Marion K Campbell and David M Reid

Insititution:

Department of Medicine and Therapeutics (HMM, MHNG, and DMR) and the Health Services Research Unit (MKC), University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and the Centre for Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom (SAN).

Country of Publication:

United Kingdom

Source:

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 79(1):155-65, 2004 January. AJCN.

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