Body mass, vitamin D and alcohol intake, lactose intolerance, and television watching influence bone mineral density of young, healthy Canadian women.
OBJECTIVE
To report bone mineral density (BMD) in young, reportedly healthy Canadian women and to determine whether lifestyle factors that have been associated with bone health in older women are also associated with BMD in young women.


METHODS
We recruited a convenience sample of 52 female undergraduate students in the Applied Human Nutrition program at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. BMD was measured at the femoral neck, lumbar spine (L1 to L4), and whole body using a Discovery Wi (Hologic Inc.) dual-energy x-ray absorptiometer. Subjects completed a questionnaire to collect demographics, medical history, physical activity levels, and dietary habits; in addition, a subset of subjects (n = 31) completed a food frequency questionnaire to collect data on calcium and vitamin D intake. BMD data were examined using T- and Z-score classifications established by the World Health Organization (WHO); multiple regression analysis was used to predict BMD with biological and lifestyle variables.


RESULTS
Mean BMD measured at the femoral neck, lumbar spine, and whole body was 0.863 ± 0.11, 1.019 ± 0.09, and 1.085 ± 0.07 g/cm(2), respectively. Body mass and body mass index were significantly positively correlated with BMD at all 3 sites. Television watching, lactose intolerance, number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week, and age were used to develop a linear regression model to predict whole-body BMD (r(2) = 0.727, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on criteria established by the WHO, women in this group presented with lower than expected BMD.
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, ON, Canada.
Carolyn M
CM
Tereszkowski
Janis A Randall
JA
Simpson
Susan J
SJ
Whiting
Andrea C
AC
Buchholz
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007787:Lactose Intolerance; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009864:Ontario; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D