title: Fruit and vegetable intakes and bone mineral status: a cross sectional study in 5 age and sex cohorts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence is increasing for positive effects of fruit and vegetable intakes on bone health. However, most of the studies to date were conducted in adults, and few reports included adolescents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We explored the association between bone mineral status and fruit and vegetable intakes in adolescent boys and girls (aged 16-18 y), young women (aged 23-37 y), and older men and women (aged 60-83 y).
  
  
  METHODS
  Bone mineral measurements of the whole body, hip, and spine were made in all subjects by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Information on health and lifestyle and physical activity was obtained by questionnaire. Fruit, vegetable, and nutrient intakes were ascertained from 7-d food diaries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In adolescent boys and girls and older women, significant positive associations were observed between spine size-adjusted bone mineral content (SA-BMC) and fruit intake. In boys only, femoral neck SA-BMC was also significantly and positively associated with the intakes of both fruit and dietary vitamin C. No significant associations were found in the young women or older men, or between bone measurements and intake of vegetables alone (after adjustments) in any of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher fruit and vegetable intakes may have positive effects on bone mineral status in both younger and older age groups, especially at the spine and femoral neck. The specific mechanisms remain to be ascertained, but vitamin C, other fruit-specific antioxidants, and lifestyle may play a role.
authors.affiliation: Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, MRC Human Nutrition Research, Cambridge, United Kingdom. celia.greenberg@mrc-hnr.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Celia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Prynne
authors.forename: Gita D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.forename: M Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Laskey
authors.forename: Liya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ginty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid