Nutritional Concerns and Bone Mineral Density

Dr. S. K. Bharadwaj, B. Mockoul

Abstract: The present study comparatively assessed the bone density among women subjects on the basis of their food habits. To conduct the study, 450 women from Durg district belonging to various social class were selected as subjects. The age range of subjects was between 30 to 45 years. Bone mineral density of the subjects was tested by the calcaneal bone densitometer. A schedule to enquire about food habits including quantity and type of food and their frequency for the past one month was filled by the respondents. The obtained scores on food habits questionnaire was tabulated and medianS. D. was used to bifurcate cases into good and poor food habits. Results indicate that the bone mineral density status of women with poor food habits were found to be significantly inferior as compared to women with good food habits. This interpretation is made on the basis of bone mineral density classification in which scores below -1 indicate presence of bone disease such as osteopenia. It was concluded that food habits play an important role as far as management of bone density is concerned.

Keywords: Bone mass density, nutrition, osteoporosis