Dietary calcium, protein, and phosphorus are related to bone mineral density and content in young women.

BACKGROUND

Dietary factors have been implicated in modifying bone health, although the results remain controversial, particularly in young women.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine relations of selected dietary factors and anthropometric measurements to bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine, femoral neck, trochanter, Ward's triangle, radius, and total body and the bone mineral content (BMC) of the spine, radius, and total body.

DESIGN

The study was a cross-sectional analysis of 215 women aged 18-31 y.

RESULTS

Weight, height, and lean mass were correlated with bone mineral measures at every site (r = 0.17-0.78). Postmenarcheal age (years since onset of menses) was positively correlated with total-body BMD and BMC, radius BMD and BMC, and spine BMC, and negatively correlated with Ward's triangle BMD. Radius BMD was correlated with protein, calcium, and phosphorus intakes, and spine BMD and BMC were correlated with energy, protein, calcium, and phosphorus intakes. These correlations remained significant when postmenarcheal age, lean mass, and fat mass were controlled. A pattern emerged in multiple regression analyses that showed a complex relation among calcium, protein or phosphorus, and the calcium-protein or calcium-phosphorus ratio and spine or total-body BMC and BMD. All 3 variables (calcium, protein or phosphorus, and calcium-protein or calcium-phosphorus ratio) were required in the model for significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Anthropometric measures were predictors of bone mass. A single ratio of calcium to phosphorus or protein did not optimize bone mass across the range of calcium intakes.