Abstract
This study was to investigate the relation of nutrients intake, health status, and bone mineral density in middle-aged women. Daily nutrients intake were analyzed by convenient method. The BMD of subjects were measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DEXA). BMD was measured at the spine(vertebrae L2-L4) and femur(neck, Ward's triangle and trochanter). The nutrients intake of subjects were higher than recommended dietary allowances(RDA) except for calorie, iron, calcium, vitamin B1. Nutrients intake of vitamin A(p<0.05), iron(p<0.01), vitamin $B_2$(p<0.05), niacin(p<0.05), and vitamin C(p<0.05) between $\leq$49 yr group and $\geq$50 yr group. Mean daily intake of calcium was much less than the Korean RDA, 78.5% in $\leq$49 yr group and 77.3% in $\geq$50 yr group. 35.8% of the subjects under 50 years of age($\leq$49 yr group) and 77.4% of the subjects from 50 years up($\geq$50 yr group) were classified as osteopenia or osteoporosis. BMD of L2-L4 were positively correlated with height(p<0.05), weight(p<0.05) and BMI(p<0.05). BMD of femoral neck was positively correlated with BMI(p<0.05), BMD of Ward's triangle was positively correlated with weight(p<0.001). But BMD of L2-L4 and femoral neck were negatively correlated with age(p<0.05), menarche(p<0.05). BMD of Ward's triangle was negatively correlated with age(p<0.001). The BMD of L2-L4 were positively correlated with animal protein(p<0.05), calcium(p<0.05) and iron(p<0.05). The BMD of femoral neck was positively correlated with animal protein(p<0.05). The BMD of Ward's triangle was positively correlated with animal protein(p<0.001) and iron(p<0.001). The above results suggest that it should be difficult to prevent middle-aged women's bone destruction through nutrients intake. Further investigation is necessary to prove the mutual relations between BMD, exercise, and calcium intake. Therefore, middle-aged women will need proper exercise as well as Ca supplementation in order to prevent osteoporosis with aging.