Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria

Background. This study analysed the correlation between characteristic dietary and non-dietary factors of fracture risk in women and mineral density of bone tissue (BMD).

Material and methods. The study involved examination of 172 women, aged between 32 and 59. Calcium intake from a daily diet was determined with the use of the semi-quantitative food consumption frequency method. The physical activity of the women was expressed in MET-minutes/week. BMD was determined by double-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The frequency of bone fracture and osteoporosis risk factors was determined and a 10-year risk of fracture (RB-10) was individually diagnosed according to the WHO and IOF criteria (2007). A high level of fracture risk (RB-10 > 14%) was assumed according to the Johnell’s algorithm [2005].

Results. The most frequent factors of fracture risk in women included: bone pains (76% of the total sample), inadequate calcium intake (43%), smoking (24%), previous fractures (24%), incidence of chronic diseases (22%), menstrual disorders (19%), family history of osteoporosis (17%), low physical activity (15%) and the incidence of thyroid disorders (10%). 85% of women had at least one factor of 10-year absolute risk of fracture. None of the examined women consumed a sufficient amount of calcium and the average calcium intake level was low (median of about 400 mg/day). Bone mineral density did not reveal any relationship with current intake of calcium by women, but depended on the consumption of dairy products in the past.

Conclusions. Daily consumption of dairy products in childhood and in the school period was conductive to a higher mineral density of bone tissue in women. Advanced age and the occurrence of menstrual disorders were conductive to a lower mineral density of bone tissue in women. Women with low bone mineral density (lower BMD tertile) more frequently used supplementation with preparations containing calcium (25%) and more often had at least one RB-10 risk factor (93% of the sample).