The Correlation of Calcium Intake with Bone Mass Density and Bone Turn Over Markers in Adults in Bushehr Province

Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a major risk factor for osteoporotic fracture. There are emerging evidences, that micronutrients and macronutrients may play a protective role against age related bone loses. In this study the relationship between dietary calcium intake and bone mineral density in adult population was investigated. A total of 1028 healthy men and women, aged 20-72 years, were randomly selected from 13 clusters in Bushehr port. Dietary calcium intake with a validated FFQ was evaluated. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to determine the bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L2-L4), distal third of radius, and proximal femur. Serum degradation products of the C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX), and osteocalcin were measured by highly specific ELISA methods. There was significant positive age- adjusted linear correlation between dietary calcium intake and femur neck BMD (r=0.06, p<0.05), femur ward’s triangle BMD (r=0.07, p=0.01), and femur trocanter BMD (r=0.06, p<0.05). Negative age-adjusted linear correlation between dietary calcium intake and osteocalcin (r=-0.07, p<0.05) in adults population were significant. It is concluded that a high dietary calcium intake has protective role against osteoprotc fracture and is supported by reduction of osteocalcin, a turn over marker in people who had used more calcium.