Diet assessment and the screening for osteoporosis: a survey in a healthy menopause population.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate about diet assessment in the screening for osteoporosis.


METHODS
In 1,441 women (group A, mean age 53.5 years, mean time from menopause 3.92(+/-4.33)] the number of daily/weekly servings/cups of different foods has been collected. In 71 women (group B, mean age 59 years, mean time from menopause 6 years) diet was assessed through a detailed questionnaire. Demographic and clinical data and dietary habits were related to bone mineral density (BMD) values, using Student t-test and the chi2 test.


RESULTS
Group A: borderline/reduced BMD 40%, the percentage increasing with age and the duration of menopause (P<0.001). BMI within normal range 56.28%. BMD values were positively associated with Body Mass Index (BMI, P<0.001), education level (P<0.005), job (P<0.01), oral contraceptives use (P<0.001), negatively with family history of osteoporosis (P<0.05). BMD values showed a positive relation with the number of eggs per week (P<0.05), positive not significant trends were observed with dairy products, vegetables, red and white meat intake. A low/reduced BMD was related to low calcium food intake in less than 50% of the women. Group B: borderline/reduced BMD 55%; BMD showed positive trends, not significant, with daily calcium intake, BMI, physical exercise. Estimated calcium intake less than 700 mg/day was found in 33% of the sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Diet assessment is not useful in the screening for osteoporosis. In women with borderline or reduced BMD, diet assessment helps to detect those at low calcium intake who need calcium supplementation, alone or in combination with other treatments.
Second Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Milan, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, V. Buzzi Hospital, Milan, Italy. vanda.bianco@unimi.it
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Bianco
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Filippi
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Tassan-Simonat
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Valente
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D'Amico
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Meroni
D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008403:Mass Screening; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002136:Calcium, Dietary