title: Dietary patterns, bone resorption and bone mineral density in early post-menopausal Scottish women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several nutrients affect bone turnover. Dietary patterns may provide insights into which foods are important and how nutrition affects bone health. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between dietary patterns, bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study examined 3236 Scottish women age 50-59 years, who were members of the Aberdeen Prospective Osteoporosis Screening Study. They had hip and spine BMD measurements (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and provided samples for bone turnover markers. Diet was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire encompassing 98 foods, from which 35 food groups were systematically created. Dietary patterns were defined by principal components analysis. The bone measures were regressed onto the dietary pattern and adjusted for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five dietary patterns were identified, three of which were associated with bone health. The 'healthy' pattern was associated with decreased bone resorption (r = 0.081, P < 0.001). Two other patterns (processed foods and snack food) were associated with lower BMD (femoral neck r = -0.056, r = -0.044, P < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary pattern may influence bone turnover and BMD. A healthy dietary pattern with high intakes of fruit and vegetables may lead to less bone resorption, and a poor dietary pattern rich in processed foods is associated with a decrease in BMD. This study confirms that a healthy diet is required for strong bones, and highlights that a nutrient-poor diet is a risk factor for osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Musculoskeletal Research Programme, Division of Applied Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK. a.hardcastle@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hardcastle
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aucott
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Macdonald
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000453:epidemiology; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014675:Vegetables