Bone mineral density in elderly and presence of nutritional risk factors for osteoporosis

• Author(s): Dourado,Caroline Marangon ; Galdino,Tatiana Pizzato ; Coutinho,Sônia Barbieri ; Bassuino,Maurício Sprenger ; Stobäus,Claus Dieter
• Date: 2012
• Origin: Oasisbr
• Subject(s): Osteoporosis, bone density, risk factors, elderly, nutrition surveys.
• Document Type: Journal article
• Language: English

Description

OBJECTIVES: Matching bone mineral density in elderly patients with osteoporosis nutritional risk factors.
METHODS: In over-sixty-year-old patients of both sexes, the mineral density was verified through a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis. Economic and demographic data were collected on a structured questionnaire. The identification of nutritional risk factors was verified through a Food Frequency Questionnaire and a Mini Nutritional Assessment. The level of significance adopted in this study was 5%.
RESULTS: The sample consisted of 71 elderly patients, in which 10 were men (14.1%) and 61 were women (85.9%). The mean age was 68.77 ± 6.73 years. In an adjusted multiple linear regression model, the gender (p = 0.009), the sodium intake (p = 0.011) and the vitamin B₁₂ (p = 0.003) were the variables that showed a higher correlation with bone mineral density. Risk of malnutrition (p = 0.021), as well as the family history of osteoporosis (p = 0.020) are also factors that negatively interfered in bone mineral density. The variables: smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol use, protein intake, fiber, caffeine, vitamin C and potassium showed no significant impact on changes in bone mineral density in the study's sample.
CONCLUSIONS: High sodium intake and low intake of vitamin B are the major nutritional risk factors for osteoporosis that affect the bone mineral density in elderly. Family history, female gender and nutritional status (risk of malnutrition) also contributed to the reduction of bone mass.