title: Positive correlation between erythrocyte levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and bone mass in postmenopausal Korean women with osteoporosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoporosis, a major health problem among postmenopausal women, is influenced by dietary factors. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that erythrocyte levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and the dietary intake of fish are associated with risk of osteoporosis and correlate with bone mass in postmenopausal Korean women with the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty cases and 100 controls were recruited. Osteoporosis was defined according to the International Society for Clinical Densitometry guideline as a score lower than -2.5 SD below the T-score for lumbar vertebrae L₁-L₄, femoral neck or femoral total.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The T-score of the femoral neck was positively correlated with erythrocyte levels of n-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the intake of fish, and was negatively correlated with the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA after adjusting for age, years after menopause and height. In addition, the risk of osteoporosis was positively associated with erythrocyte levels of saturated fatty acids but negatively associated with EPA + DHA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erythrocyte levels of n-3 PUFA and the intake of fish were positively correlated with bone mass. In particular, erythrocyte levels of EPA + DHA reduced the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Korean women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoun-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Tae-Hee
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Yongsoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck; D005399:Fishes; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid