Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate nutrient intake and bone status in rural postmenopausal women in Korea. Ten postmenopausal women in An-Sung area participated in this study and they were divided into two groups ; women in group I had been postmenopausal for 4 years or less and those in group II had been postmenopausal for 5 years or more before the present study began. Their environmental factors and dietary intakes were surveyed through the personal interviews. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone(PTH), estradiol and urinary Ca, P, creatinine, hydroxyproline levels were measured from December 4 to December 27 in 1993. The reults of this study are summarized as follows : Average ages of group I and II were 54.8 and 57.2 years. Average menopausal ages of group I and II were 50.8 and 47.3 years. The nutrient intakes of subjects were higher than recommended dietary allowances(RDA) except calorie, protein, calcium, and vitamin A. The nutrient status did not show any significant difference between group I and II. Serum levels of Ca, P, PTH, estradiol and urinary P, creatinine excretion did not show any significant difference between group I and II, and all levels were in normal range. Urinary Ca excretion(p<0.05) and hydroxyproline excretion(p<0.01) were significantly lower in group I than in group II. Urinary Ca/creatinine(Ca/cr) and hydroxyproline/creatinine(Hpr/cr) rations were significantly higher in group II than in group I(p<0.01. And Hpr/cr levels of group I were in normal range, but most of subjects in group II were higher than 0.017 indicating sign of osteoporosis. Correlations between parameters showed that serum PTH adn urinary Ca, Ca/cr levels were positive related (p<0.01), and the years of the after menopausal year and urinary Hpr/cr was also positive related(p<0.05). The present results suggests that it is difficult to protect postmenopausal women's bone destruction having Korean usual diets. Therefore, to prevent osteoporosis with aging, minimizing the hormonal changes in postmenopausal women is needed as well as Ca supplementation and proper exercise before menopause begins.